One of the fascinating things about leadership is how often humour reveals the real person underneath the performance. Not rehearsed jokes or speechwriter lines, but the ability to stay psychologically flexible under pressure.
That was one of the themes that emerged during my recent conversation on the Humourology Podcast with Sir Anthony Seldon, the historian, educationalist and biographer of British Prime Ministers.
At one point in the discussion, we found ourselves talking about one of the most respected political leaders in the world right now: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Before politics, Zelenskyy was a comedian and performer. Yet during one of the gravest geopolitical crises in modern history, many people across the world have looked to him as a symbol of resilience, courage and leadership.
When Leaders Feel Human
That is psychologically interesting because humour is often misunderstood. People sometimes assume humour makes leaders appear less serious. In reality, it can make them feel more human.
Anthony and I discussed the fact that humour is rarely just about telling jokes. More often, it signals confidence, perspective and emotional intelligence. The ability to absorb pressure without transmitting panic to everybody else in the room.
That matters because modern leadership increasingly feels tense, scripted and defensive. Leaders are trained not to make mistakes, not to offend and not to appear uncertain. Yet the people we often trust most are not necessarily the most polished. They are the people who still feel real.
Anthony made a point during our conversation that stayed with me. He said that “people can do far more in life than they think they can”.
That line applies powerfully to leadership.
Because so much ineffective leadership comes from fear. Fear of criticism. Fear of looking weak. Fear of losing authority. Humour quietly disrupts that fear. It lowers tension, creates connection and allows people to think more flexibly under pressure.
What Comedians Understand About Pressure
Perhaps that is one reason why someone with a background in comedy could become such an effective wartime communicator.
Comedians learn something many leaders never fully grasp. Timing matters. Connection matters. Reading the emotional temperature of a room matters. And perhaps most importantly, audiences can tell very quickly when somebody is authentic.
Anthony has spent decades studying power and leadership, writing biographies of Prime Ministers from John Major and Tony Blair through to Boris Johnson and Liz Truss (How not to be Prime Minister)
What struck me most was that beneath all the political analysis sits a much deeper interest in human behaviour itself: confidence, anxiety, resilience and meaning.
And whether directly stated or not, humour.
Why Psychological Flexibility Matters
Humour is not a distraction from leadership. At its best, humour is evidence of psychological flexibility. It allows leaders to stay human while carrying extraordinary pressure.
The irony is that as technology becomes more sophisticated, these deeply human qualities may become more valuable rather than less. Artificial intelligence can process information at extraordinary speed, but it still struggles with emotional nuance, warmth, timing and the social intelligence humour requires.
Humour, at its best, is emotional intelligence happening live in the room.
Three Humourology takeaways for leaders
- Humour is not weakness. It is often a sign of confidence and perspective.
- People trust leaders who feel psychologically comfortable in themselves.
- Under pressure, emotional flexibility usually beats rigidity.
In difficult times, people rarely expect perfection from leaders. What they often look for instead is steadiness. Humanity. Perspective. And occasionally, someone who can make the room breathe again with a well-timed laugh.
If you have not yet listened to my conversation with Sir Anthony Seldon on the Humourology Podcast, I think you will really enjoy it.
See you next Tuesday.
Warmest,
Paul x
PS Sir Anthony Seldon also co-founded Action for Happiness, which is dedicated to creating a happier and more caring world.
After our conversation, I joined myself.
And if you feel life could perhaps do with a little more joy, connection and perspective right now, you might enjoy exploring it too.
You can find out more at Action For Happiness
