The Exam Room
Permission To Laugh Episode 3: Play, Timing Is Everything with Kathy Klotz-Guest
What happens when humor doesn't land? In the final episode of Permission to Laugh , Kathy Klotz-Guest and Dr. Rhiannon Winsor talk about the importance of timing, context, and knowing when humor simply isn't the right choice. Kathy explains how to recognize when someone is too upset or overwhelmed to hear humor, why an upset person needs to feel heard before they can laugh, and what to do when a joke misses the mark. Her advice? Own it. Don't blame the audience. Self-awareness goes a long way. They also explore what it really means to "read the room"—from body language and facial expressions to silence, tone, energy, and the things people aren't saying. In an increasingly virtual workplace, Kathy shares ways we can still pay attention to those cues. As the conversation comes to a close, the focus expands beyond humor. Kathy talks about joy, playfulness, authenticity, and the importance of giving ourselves permission to bring more of those things into our lives. Because maybe the goal isn't simply to bring more humor into healthcare. Maybe it's to create more room to be human. Kathy Klotz-Guest, MA, MBA is a speaker, author, and comedian who refused to choose between being funny and doing serious work where people thrive. She spent decades performing stand-up, sketch, and improv while leading teams in Silicon Valley. She studies why people hold back—and how leaders can change that. As founder of Keeping it Human®, Kathy works with organizations including Amazon, Kaiser Permanente, Google, and Cisco to help leaders and teams become bolder, healthier communicators and innovators. Her work sits at the intersection of humor, psychology, and strategy: when laughter lowers fear and rigidity, people speak up, think bigger, and take smarter risks. Her goal is simple—to help leaders build a safety net for ridiculously good ideas and bolder, braver people. Kathy's book, Stop Boring Me!, hit #1 on Amazon, and her work has been featured in Forbes. She has led teams at Excite, Gartner Group, Autodesk, and other Silicon Valley companies. And yes, you can still catch her on comedy stages. http://www.facebook.com/KeepingItHuman https://www.instagram.com/klotzguest http://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyklotzguest Her book - Stop Boring me! - https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Boring-Me-Kick-Ass-Marketing/dp/1684191092/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1474674629&sr=8-4&keywords=kathy+klotz-guest
