Are you having a laugh?
And my word for 2025
Happy new year!
(Are we still saying that? I know we’re halfway through the month, but to me it still feels like I’m just getting started.)
I’m fairly anti new-year-resolutions because I don’t feel that cold, dark January is a time for fresh starts. It feels like a time to be kind to yourself, to rest and reflect, and to make the most of any sunshine that does emerge.1
But I have seen people on social media2 talking about choosing a “word for the year.” And if feels like this is something I could get on board with. It’s a way of articulating what feels most important to you, and acts as a touchpoint when things get tricky or there are choices to be made.
I’ve seen others talk about words such as “purpose”, “balance” and “bravery” which they want to focus on. For me, my word of the year for 2025 will be “connection."
I’ve realised how much better I feel, and how much more productive I am, when I’m connected to other people. Reading and podcasts are great, but nothing fires my brain up more than a good chat with someone else.
If you’d like a chat, drop me a line. I’m available for online and IRL coffees, events and (my favourite) walks on the beach.
Why laughing is a serious matter
A huge part of connecting with people is having fun together. So if you lead a team, it’s important to make space for a bit of humour.
Work can sometimes feel like a very serious business. But it’s often the most stressful and intense workplaces (the NHS, the armed forces, the emergency services) where humour is most evident.
That’s because in those environments team-building is absolutely essential - and nothing builds a team better than a good laugh.
We all know that laughing makes us feel good. But this simple response is more complex than you might imagine.
Research shows three massive benefits to laughing at work.
Laughing relaxes you.
It’s impossible to feel anxious or stressed while you’re laughing, so it’s an excellent way to defuse tension.
Laughing is inherently social.
If you’re watching a comedy alone, you’re much less likely to laugh than if you are with friends.
Social researcher Robert Provine likens laughter to birdsong, as a form of social bonding and group coordination. This means it’s absolutely essential to team building.
Laughter allows us to think differently.
It’s been shown to trigger the part of our brains that allow us to think more ‘loosely’ and connect different ideas. It really does make us more creative.
Good leaders know how to use humour to get the best out of people – to help individuals relax, to help teams bond and to prompt new insights. And you’ll feel the benefits yourself, too.
Could you spend some time thinking about how you can allow space for laughter and fun in your team meetings?
You don't need to be a comedian, just allow space for people to relax and be social.
£10 off online training
As mentioned in my December email, I’m offering you, my lovely newsletter subscribers, £10 off all of my online training courses until the end of March.
If you want to brush up on your leadership and stakeholder management skills, they are practical, insightful and can be completed at your own pace, in your own time.
At just £50 each with this discount, they are also very budget-friendly!
There are 3 courses.
Lead and develop your team
Tackling tough conversations
Persuasion and negotiation
Each is about 1 hour long, broken-down into digestable, ten minute sections.
Just use the code TAKE10 at checkout.
I wrote about Wintering by Katherine May in my last email, which expands on this idea.
I’m on Linked In - please come and connect there if you’re interested. I post a bit more about culture and change stuff, as well as nice photos of the beach.