David Horning

We have been conditioned to believe that work ISN'T ​"the time or place to laugh," but studies have conclusively shown that this couldn't be further from the truth. Discover why humor can be a powerful tool that inspires creativity, productivity, and a collaborative workplace culture.

Leaders across industries are struggling to engage teams, communicate across silos, and drive productivity in a fast-moving, uncertain marketplace. While many turn toward the shiniest tools and trends in an attempt to stand out, studies show that embracing one basic human skill can differentiate your organization as a top recruiter, engager, and retainer of talent: a sense of humor. No joke! Humor-led employee engagement programming has been proven to break down communication silos and deepen relationships, strengthen resilience, innovate collaboration, boost bottom lines, and so much more! In this high-energy, hands-on keynote session, audiences won’t be transformed into stand-up comedians (you can breathe a sigh of relief, HR), but rather experience an introduction to innovative leadership based on principles of humor, such as empathy, vulnerability, and curiosity. And here’s the biggest punchline of all: you don’t even have to be funny to do it!

If you've ever seen the fully improvised show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, you've probably thought "The actors are too quick and too funny for this to be made up on the spot." In reality, great improvisers develop by honing basic communication and leadership skills that can break down creative and collaborative barriers and produce results, whether you're onstage or in the office. In this fully immersive session designed to inspire exciting new connections and conversations, attendees will learn the importance of embracing disagreements and bad ideas as part of the collaborative problem-solving process through the core rules of improvisation: acceptance, trust and support, empathy, and listening. While all teams collaborate and communicate differently, there is one tool that serves as a universal baseline for interpersonal collaboration across departments, generations, and ideologies. In a world where most leaders are conditioned to say "No" or "Yes, but," say "Yes, and..."