Humor at Work: How to Create a Culture of FUN! (LAFTER Framework Part 2)
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
What if the difference between a good workplace… and a great one… was something surprisingly simple? Fun.
In this episode of Laugh or Death, Paul picks up where he left off in Episode 10 and continues breaking down his LAFTER framework—a practical model for using humor to build stronger, healthier workplace cultures.
And this one starts with a stat that’s hard to ignore:
In a study of nearly 1.2 million employees, the number one factor that moved a workplace from “good” to “great” wasn’t perks, pay, or flexibility…
It was whether people felt like they worked in a fun environment.
From there, Paul walks through the next steps in the LAFTER model—focusing on how leaders and teams can actually create that kind of environment (without turning into the office comedian).
He breaks down:
Why you don’t have to be funny to use humor at work
How to “ask for help” by tapping into naturally funny people on your team
The difference between fun vs funny (and why it matters more than you think)
How organizations can tell the story of their culture through hiring, interviews, and social media
Why humor has to be earned through trust, reliability, and respect
And how simple, consistent rituals create real culture (not just once-a-year events)
One of the biggest takeaways? You don’t build a fun culture by trying to be hilarious…
You build it by creating an environment where fun can naturally happen.
This episode is packed with practical ideas—from adding humor to meetings and presentations to creating small daily rituals that make work feel lighter and more human.
If you want a team that’s more engaged, more connected, and actually enjoys showing up…
This is where it starts.
Links:
Downloads the FREE Fun Over Funny Guide for Leaders: https://www.paulosincup.com/freegift
All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup
If you enjoyed this episode and want to build your own humor habit, make sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who could use a little more levity in their life.
To learn more about Paul’s work, book him for speaking engagements, or explore the science behind humor and resilience, visit: 👉 https://www.paulosincup.com You can also dive deeper into the tools discussed in this episode in Paul’s book: 👉 The Humor Habit
Episode Minute-By-Minute:
00:00 – Why Fun Matters at Work (The Research)
01:30 – From Good to Great: The Role of Fun
03:00 – The LAFTER Framework Overview
04:30 – A = Ask for Help
06:00 – You Don’t Have to Be Funny
08:00 – Using Humor in Meetings and Presentations
10:00 – Letting “Company Comics” Lead the Way
12:00 – F = Fun Over Funny
14:00 – Why Fun Creates Natural Humor
16:00 – Avoiding “Trying Too Hard” at Work
18:00 – T = Tell Your Story
20:00 – Hiring for Humor and Culture Fit
22:00 – Using Job Descriptions and Interviews
24:00 – Social Media and Brand Personality
26:00 – E = Earn It
28:00 – Why Trust Comes Before Humor
30:00 – Safe vs Risky Humor at Work
32:00 – R = Rituals
34:00 – Why Big Events Don’t Build Culture
36:00 – Daily, Weekly, Monthly Ritual Ideas
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