"Good morning. When Zelle chief Denise Leonhard interviewed Preston McCaskill to head up operations of the peer-to-peer payment platform last year, she was impressed by his preparation, problem-solving instincts and curiosity. But what cemented the deal for her was his sense of humor. She "cracked a couple of jokes and gave him the space to be able to crack a few jokes," she says. Once they started laughing, she knew he'd fit well with the team."
"Make the joke about you -Self-deprecating humor can be a potent tool for any leader. Done well, it humanizes you and can make you more relatable. Avoid sharing stories that might make colleagues question your intelligence, ethics or ability to do the job. Family is fair game if your partner and kids come off well but jokes about your Gulfstream or billionaire retreat might fall flat."
Zelle chief Denise Leonhard prioritized sense of humor when hiring Preston McCaskill, valuing his preparation, problem-solving and ability to laugh with the team. Humor promotes creativity, productivity, connections and stronger culture, and presence of humor encourages extra effort while its absence reduces creativity and engagement. Diverse teams and social media increase risks that jokes will offend or be misinterpreted. Leaders can use self-deprecating humor to humanize themselves but should avoid stories that cast doubt on competence, ethics, or intelligence. Family anecdotes are safer than displays of wealth. Former Cisco CEO John Chambers used duck calls to break tension.
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