Leadership Requires a Good Laugh.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
When was your last good laugh?
For me, it was this weekend, one of those laugh-so-hard-it-hurts-in-a-good-way kind of laughs, while sharing a silly moment with my family. Ask me the last time I laughed this way at work, and well...I'd have to think a bit harder about that.
Unsurprisingly, most leaders laugh more when around children than their coworkers. According to most research on the topic, kids laugh 300-400 times per day, compared to the average adult who may get 15-18 chuckles at best in the same 24-hour period.
I absolutely get it—leading an organization through intense periods of change is hardly a laughing matter. But what if…what if leaders introduced a little more laughter into the world of work? What might happen to the culture as a result?
I thought about this question earlier this week when my mom shared this recent story about the "Parody Principal," Superintendent Mike Allen of Evansville Christian School. Allen has become a viral sensation for his musical parodies on YouTube, which give him ample reasons to engage with students in his community and ample reasons to laugh, too. The most recent news story on Allen (linked above), well-timed as students across the country prepare to head back to school, is also a guaranteed way to get a good laugh today…in case you're running behind on your daily laugh count.
Through his creative, joyful, and authentic videos, Allen offers a wonderful reminder that the best way to engage community in your mission is more than words: more than your latest impact report, op ed, or webinar. Getting communities engaged and activated to the level where they wish to become ambassadors of your brand also requires connection. And a great way to build that connection is through—you guessed it—humor.
Yes, humor. Even when the stakes are high and tensions are rising. Humor can be an excellent antidote to remind us all what we have in common.
So, if you think laughter has no place in your work environment, consider this:
Laughter can bring lightness to serious spaces. While most Superintendents may choose to communicate through policy memos or weekly written emails, Allen decided to communicate policy updates more personally. From spoofs about snow day policies to return-to-school announcements for parents, his lighthearted creativity offers a different take on delivering a message. He chose humor as his medium, and in doing so, has been consistently lifting the culture of his school system. It’s about laughter, and so much more. His reliance on humor has helped build trust, connection, and shared experiences for everyone in his district—something that a standard email blast simply can’t do.
Show, don’t tell. In just a few minutes of screen time, Allen shows what his values look like in action: joy, humility, and togetherness. It’s not about telling people what the culture of his community is or about high-end production; it’s about the feeling of belonging that can be achieved when a leader leans into their authentic communications style.
Don’t force it. Allen’s parodies work precisely because they aren’t forced. They’re relational: featuring real students, inside jokes, and the pulse of a school district united by purpose. When communications go wrong, it’s often because the communicator has overthought the message, which can lead to an empty-feeling product. If you’re trying to engage your community in new ways, don’t overthink it. Instead, think about how they might connect with the message—and with you—most naturally.
Bottom line: In a world that prizes polish, the Parody Principal reminds us of the power in being unguarded, joyful, and in the moment. For leaders in purpose-driven work—where heart often matters more than the headlines—it’s a message worth remembering: the most resonant message may be the one you share when you’re just being yourself.
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
