Effective leadership isn’t just about making the right decisions or setting strategic goals. It’s also about creating an environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered.
Two traits that are often overlooked, humility and humour, can play a significant role in enhancing knowledge sharing, encouraging job crafting, and boosting employee engagement.
Let’s explore how these qualities can shape workplace culture for the better.
Why humility matters in leadership
What does humility mean in leadership?
Humility goes beyond simply being modest. It’s about recognising your limitations, being open to feedback, and seeking input from your team. Humble leaders acknowledge that collaboration leads to better results and create a culture where everyone feels comfortable contributing.
How humility impacts the workplace
Humble leaders make it easier for employees to share their knowledge and ideas. When people feel their contributions are valued and won’t be judged, collaboration flourishes, leading to innovative solutions.
Humility also encourages job crafting, where employees tweak their roles to better align with their strengths and interests. Employees who feel respected and empowered by their leaders are more likely to take ownership of their work and find new ways to add value.
How leaders can embrace humility
Ask for feedback: Actively invite insights and suggestions from your team.
Own mistakes: Treat failures as learning opportunities for growth.
Empower others: Highlight and utilise the strengths of your team members, giving them the autonomy to tackle new challenges.
By embracing humility, leaders can unlock their team’s potential, creating an open and collaborative culture where employees feel motivated to contribute.
How humour creates a positive work culture
Humour in leadership: what does it look like?
Leadership humour isn’t about being the office comedian. It’s about using light-hearted moments to build rapport, ease communication, and create a positive atmosphere where employees feel relaxed and supported.
The benefits of humour
A good sense of humour enhances psychological safety—a vital ingredient for knowledge sharing. When people feel at ease, they’re more willing to share their ideas and insights. Humour also breaks down communication barriers, making collaboration smoother and more enjoyable.
In addition, humour can encourage job crafting by helping employees think creatively about their roles. A light-hearted work environment is more likely to inspire employees to approach challenges with enthusiasm and innovation.
How leaders can use humour effectively
Keep it light: Use humour to defuse tension and build rapport.
Be inclusive: Ensure your jokes are appropriate and resonate with everyone.
Encourage creativity: A relaxed atmosphere often leads to fresh ideas and perspectives.
By weaving humour into their leadership style, managers can build stronger connections with their teams, spark creativity, and create a workplace where employees feel energised and motivated.
Building a culture of trust, creativity, and engagement
When leaders bring humility and humour into their approach, they create a workplace where knowledge sharing thrives, job crafting is encouraged, and employees feel truly engaged.
Humble leaders build trust and openness, empowering employees to share ideas and take ownership of their roles. Humorous leaders reduce stress, stimulate creativity, and make collaboration a pleasure. Together, these qualities drive innovation, productivity, and a sense of belonging.
Organisations looking to boost engagement and performance should consider investing in leadership development programmes that emphasise these traits.
The results? A thriving, dynamic work environment where everyone can succeed.
This article was written by Thaleia Maria Sykioti, a recent Occupational psychology graduate from the University of Sheffield. Connect with Thaleia on LinkedIn.
