The Formula for a Healthy Team. Laughter + Joy = Human Connection
Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt the energy shift because people were laughing? That full-body, heart open, “I feel safe here” kind of laughter that immediately makes you smile and giggle as a side effect?
That sound is one of the most powerful indicators of a healthy environment. It is Joy LOL'ing (Living Out Loud). It is the sound of strength and health. And science backs it up.
Researchers have found that laughter increases endorphins, strengthens social bonds, improves collaboration, lowers cortisol, and even boosts creativity and problem solving. In children, laughter is the number one sign of wellbeing and emotional safety. The same is true for adults. We are just so busy in our day we forget to have fun! In marriages, in friendships, in families, and in teams, joy is not fluff. Joy is data. It is culture and connection.
The healthiest organizations, the strongest relationships, and the most effective teams all share the sound of joy expressed out loud.
We live in a time when pressure is high, change is constant, and people are carrying more than they are speaking out loud. When joy disappears from a team, burnout rises. Stress rises. Turnover rises. Communication gets transactional. Trust becomes fragile.
Joy is not the opposite of productivity. It is the rocket fuel for it.
And the good news? Joy is not accidental. It is not up to that one person that "oozes joy" to step up and create the movement. Joy is buildable.
Here are 3 practical, research-backed ways to infuse more joy into our daily lives.
1. CelebrATE SMALL MOMENTS. NOT JUST BIG WINS.
Joy doesn’t only appear at the finish line. It shows up in the tiny, ordinary moments we often overlook. The shared joke, the “you crushed that,” the quick moment of gratitude.
Start meetings with a “micro-win” share.
Celebrate progress, not perfection.
Our brains are wired to remember the negative easily. Celebrating small joys retrains the brain to spot the good, lifting energy and morale for everyone.
2. Make Space to Allow Play.
Play is not for children only. Play is a psychological human need for adults, too. Play activates the creative part of the brain, improves problem solving, and fosters trust quickly.
Add one playful moment into each team gathering: trivia, a question of the day, a funny prompt, a quick stretch.
Play signals psychological safety. When people feel safe, they perform at higher levels.
My vote is to get out silly slime before our next team meeting. It makes me smile just thinking about it!
3. laugh together on purpose
Laughter is contagious, and even anticipating laughter releases tension in the body. Teams that laugh together simply work better together.
Share a funny story or photo at the start of the week.
Send “you need a smile today” messages to your team.
Laughter synchronizes group energy and regulates the nervous system. It literally puts everyone on the same wavelength.
Joy doesn’t thrive in environments that shame it, minimize it, or rush past it. It grows where leaders model lightness, gratitude, and authenticity.
Yes, I can hear your burning questions. "But what if my team just doesn't act through joy?"
Here are a few ways to get you started welcoming more joy into your workplace or life.
Give permission for people to be human.
Praise curiosity, laughter, collaboration, and kindness.
Normalize celebrating effort, not just outcomes.
And my personal favorite...show your joy! Because joy is caught, not taught!
When teams experience consistent joy, they don’t just perform better, they stay longer, communicate more openly, and innovate more boldly.
Whether you’re leading a team, nurturing a family, or building a community, remember this: Joy is the sign and sound of life being lived well.
Let’s build spaces where laughter echoes through hallways, Zoom calls, conference rooms, and dinner tables. Let’s create environments where joy isn’t an accident but instead a choice we make.
Lets LOL while we LOL! "Laugh Out Loud" while we "Live Out Loud".
xxoo,
Krista
I’m Krista Ryan
My job is to help you learn a little, laugh a lot, and get clear on action steps for your success.
It may have taken a life changing event to shake me awake and decide I no longer wanted to live a comfortable life… I wanted to embrace the discomfort and live a life of courage and intention.
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