Humor As A Strategic Tool For Building Team Resilience
How leaders can help teams adapt, recover, and thrive under pressure
Why humor is a resilience multiplier for teams
Change and uncertainty are constant in business. Resilient teams navigate setbacks faster, maintain focus, and return to high performance sooner. Thoughtful use of humor supports resilience by reframing challenges, reducing stress, and keeping people connected. (Related reading: Why humor builds instant connection in business and leadership.)
“Humor doesn’t erase the challenge, but it can give people just enough relief to keep moving forward instead of shutting down.” – Beth Sherman
The link between resilience and performance
Resilience is a strategic capability, not a soft skill. Teams that bounce back quickly protect timelines, improve retention, and safeguard customer experience. Leaders can cultivate resilience through culture, communication, and role modeling.
“Resilience isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about helping people see that they can handle what’s in front of them, one step at a time.” – Beth Sherman
How humor strengthens resilience
Reframes the story
Humor helps teams keep setbacks in proportion, shifting from overwhelm to problem solving.
“When we can laugh in the middle of something difficult, it changes the story we’re telling ourselves about that situation.” – Beth Sherman
Reduces stress to improve clarity
Lighter moments lower tension so people can think clearly, collaborate, and make better decisions.
Builds connection for hard moments
Shared levity strengthens the social bonds that carry teams through demanding stretches.
“In tough seasons, people need to know they’re not alone in the work. Humor can be one of the fastest ways to create that sense of ‘we’re in this together.’” – Beth Sherman
Practical strategies for leaders
Acknowledge difficulty without dwelling on it. Pair realism with a steady, solutions-focused tone.
Use light moments to sustain problem solving and keep ideas flowing open during brainstorms and post-mortems.
Model calm self-awareness. Normalize learning and iteration by showing it yourself. (See also: Why humor is a leadership skill every smart leader needs.)
Frequently asked questions
How can humor help during a crisis?
It reduces tension, restores perspective, and keeps teams engaged in solutions without minimizing the issue.
“Humor can keep a crisis from becoming a spiral. It doesn’t make the problem go away, but it helps keep the problem from getting bigger in people’s minds.” – Beth Sherman
Will humor make people take the problem less seriously?
Not when used respectfully. The goal is relief and clarity, not dismissal.
Is humor appropriate in high-stakes industries?
Yes, when it is professional, inclusive, and aligned to context and audience.
“The stakes might be high, but people are still human. If you can respect the work and the moment, humor can actually help people perform better under pressure.” – Beth Sherman
Ready to give your teams the resilience skills they need to adapt, recover, and thrive?
Beth Sherman is a 7-time Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and keynote speaker who helps leaders and teams use humor as a tool for connection, persuasion, and performance, delivering programs that are as actionable as they are engaging.
Book Beth as your next conference or event speaker!
