Event Details

DAVID HORNING: LEAD WITH LAUGHS: USE HUMOR TO PUT THE 'HUMAN' IN HR

We’ve been programmed to believe that "work isn't the time or place to laugh,” but this outdated adage has a demotivating, destructive effect in the modern workplace. 

Backed by case studies and scientific research, this program shows why using humor is a powerful reframing technique to get from problem to solution, plus simple daily practices anyone can implement and hilarious anecdotes about what not to do to determine, well, what to do.

Executives and HR departments everywhere face endless uncertainty as new technologies and cultural shifts upend the status quo in an increasingly dynamic 21^st century workplace. Being open to our humanity and being comfortable with change through the use of humor improves problem-solving, builds trust, and inspires innovation, but can also transform your workplace into a safe space for creativity, collaboration, and fun that will engage and inspire your team to reach their potential by leading with laughs... you don't even have to be funny to do it! 

OBJECTIVES

1. 4 reasons why addressing employee engagement in new ways is urgent in the modern workplace for recruiting, engaging, and retaining millennials and gen-z talent.
2. The definition of humor, its most common myth, and why it’s such a powerful tool for inspiring a resilient, creative, and engaged team.
3. 5 hallmarks that separate demotivating management and inspiring leadership styles.
4. A simple life hack (or laugh hack in this case) for quickly adapting to unexpected adversity.
5. 6 guidelines for incorporating humor into your workplace culture.

BIOGRAPHY

Combining 9 years of comedy with 7 years of speaking, including for over 70 SHRM chapters, David Horning is on a mission to prepare teams for the shifting workplace of the 21st century. He has entertained and inspired audiences to use humor as a tool to build resilience, relieve stress, and engage teams with programs that turn traditional leadership on its head. In 2019, he founded Water Cooler Comedy, a company offering customized corporate comedy shows, keynotes, workshops, leadership consulting, and more.

David continues to perform stand-up, has been featured in The New York Comedy Festival, he hosts a podcast called “You Can’t Laugh At That” to explore the ins and outs of humor theory, stand-up comedy, joke writing, and how leaders have used humor in the workplace, and he has appeared as a guest expert on several leadership and HR podcasts. He is currently procrastinating on his first book.