Naomi Bagdonas Books
Naomi Bagdonas is a lecturer at Stanford and an executive coach specializing in humor and leadership.
Known for: Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Books by Naomi Bagdonas
Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Most people think humor is a nice extra—useful for comedians, optional for leaders, and risky in serious settings. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas argue the opposite. In Humor, Seriously, they show that humor is not a distraction from meaningful work but a powerful advantage in leadership, collaboration, creativity, and resilience. Used well, humor builds trust faster, makes communication more memorable, reduces stress, and helps people stay flexible under pressure. In a world of burnout, remote work, and constant uncertainty, that is not trivial. It is strategic. The book stands out because it combines rigorous behavioral science with practical workplace insight. Aaker, a Stanford professor known for her research on happiness and meaning, teams up with Bagdonas, an executive coach and lecturer who teaches humor and leadership. Together, they translate research and real-life business examples into techniques ordinary people can actually use. Their central promise is both encouraging and challenging: humor is not a rare talent reserved for naturally funny people. It is a learnable skill, a mindset, and a leadership tool that almost anyone can develop.
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Humor Is Human Connection in Action
Laughter often looks light, but its effects are profound. One of the book’s central insights is that humor is not merely entertainment; it is social glue. When people laugh together, they feel safer, closer, and more open. Research shows that humor can trigger the release of chemicals associated wit...
From Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Great Leaders Use Levity, Not Distance
Many leaders believe authority requires seriousness. The book argues that this assumption quietly weakens leadership. People do not trust leaders because they seem flawless or emotionally armored. They trust leaders who feel credible and human at the same time. Humor, when used wisely, helps leaders...
From Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Escape the Humor Cliff Through Practice
Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many people stop being playful. The authors call this drop-off the “humor cliff”: as responsibilities grow and professional norms harden, we begin to treat seriousness as maturity. We censor spontaneity, fear looking foolish, and start believing that humor ...
From Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Find the Comic Style That Fits You
One reason people avoid humor is that they imagine there is only one acceptable version of it: fast, witty, and performative. The book dismantles this fear by showing that humor has many styles, and effective humor begins with authenticity. You do not need to sound like a late-night host or office e...
From Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Humor Makes Communication Memorable and Clear
People rarely remember the most precise sentence in a conversation. They remember the line that made them feel something. That is why humor is such a powerful communication tool. It sharpens attention, increases recall, and helps ideas land with more force. In business and life, being understood is ...
From Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
Levity Fuels Creativity and Better Thinking
Stressed minds narrow. Playful minds explore. One of the book’s most valuable contributions is its argument that humor is not just socially useful; it is cognitively useful. Humor helps people shift perspective, combine distant ideas, and stay mentally flexible. These are exactly the capacities need...
From Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.)
About Naomi Bagdonas
Naomi Bagdonas is a lecturer at Stanford and an executive coach specializing in humor and leadership.
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Naomi Bagdonas is a lecturer at Stanford and an executive coach specializing in humor and leadership.
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