Curiosity #35 - You must pass the Laugh Test

🎤 Quotable quotes:

Jamie: “Coach, I’m me. Why would I want to be anyone else?”
Ted: “I’m not sure you realize how psychologically healthy that actually is.”

(Because this is brilliant comedy writing right here :) )

The Laugh Test (a.k.a. The Interview Question That Actually Matters)

We’re big fans of servant leadership.
We’re even bigger fans of servant leadership that feels… human.

That’s why our friend Patrick Carney’s “Laugh Test” stuck with us. It’s simple:

If no one laughs in the interview, don’t accept the job. Or don't hire them.
Not because you’re supposed to do stand-up—but because you’re supposed to connect.

And we think Ted Lasso would love that rule. It reminds us what we’re actually trying to build: trust, psychological safety, and shared joy.

So let’s break it down:

The résumé got you in the room. The Laugh Test tells you whether you want to stay.

In any interview, there’s a moment when the tension dips and something real sneaks in—an unplanned laugh, a shared smirk, a story that lands just right. It’s subtle. But it matters.

That’s the Laugh Test. And from the perspective of the person being interviewed, it’s one of the clearest signs of whether you’re just qualified for a role—or whether you might actually belong there.

What Is the Laugh Test?

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about being funny.
It’s about being human.

In Lead It Like Lasso, we talk about the ability to be serious about the work without taking yourself too seriously. The Laugh Test captures that in action. It asks:

• Can this team handle high pressure without high drama?

• Can they connect without performing?

• Can I see myself solving hard problems with them and still wanting to share a breakroom?

Laughter is a clue—not that you’ve nailed the interview, but that something honest and mutual is happening. That’s the real test.

Culture Fit ≠ Culture Copy

Too often, “culture fit” gets misinterpreted as “look and sound just like us.” But belonging isn’t about blending in. It’s about being welcomed in.

That’s what makes the Laugh Test so powerful. It’s not about scripted questions or rehearsed answers. It’s about:

• Ease in the conversation

• Room for authenticity

• A glimpse of psychological safety

You’re not just hoping they like you. You’re listening to how they interact when the moment gets unscripted. Because culture isn’t just what companies claim—it’s how they treat people when no one’s watching.

The Interview Goes Both Ways

When you’re on the interviewee side of the table, you’re not just proving you're a great fit—you’re checking whether this place fits you.

So go ahead and bring your résumé. Know your answers. Be prepared.

But also—watch for the laugh. Not the forced chuckle, not the icebreaker joke. The real one. The moment that tells you:
"This isn’t just a team I could work for. It’s a team I’d want to grow with."

More leadership musings

🍪 Biscuits with the Boss: 

“If interviews came with a required talent show round, what would your (secret) act be?”
Bonus points for sincerity and absurdity.
Ted would probably make balloon animals. Roy would just glare until hired.

🏅Whistle. Whistle. A little Roy Kent Tough Love Advice:

“If you can’t laugh with someone, don’t hire them. If you can’t take feedback without flinching, don’t lead them.”

Listen. We’re not saying every meeting needs to be a stand-up special.
But if you’re building a team and no one feels safe enough to smile, you're not building a team—you’re building a pressure cooker.

Stop pretending “culture fit” is just about ping pong tables and brand values.
Start noticing who shows up, who listens, who makes the room lighter just by being human.

And for the love of all that is biscuits and boundaries:
Stop hiring robots and expecting real connection.

WHISTLE. BLOODY. WHISTLE.

📚Beard’s collection: 

📖 Aaker, Jennifer, and Naomi Bagdonas. Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.) Currency, 2020.
If you’ve ever sat in a meeting so dry it could be used as a dehumidifier, this one’s for you. Equal parts science and sass, this book makes the case that humor isn’t a distraction from leadership—it’s the glue that holds great teams together. Includes charts, case studies, and permission to stop opening every meeting with “housekeeping items.” Ted would 100% assign this to the Diamond Dogs.

📖 Martin, Steve. Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life. Scribner, 2007.
This isn’t a book about leadership—it’s a masterclass in commitment, weirdness, and the long game of finding your voice. Martin chronicles his rise from Disneyland banjo guy to comedy icon with humility and just enough heartbreak. A must-read for anyone who’s trying to be taken seriously and still be themselves. Coach Beard probably already has it memorized.

📖 Gallo, Carmine. Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds. St. Martin’s Press, 2014.
You don’t have to give a TED Talk to talk like someone worth listening to. Gallo breaks down how to make people care—whether you're on stage, in a team meeting, or at a job interview. It’s storytelling, strategy, and a reminder that your voice matters (yes, even when it shakes). Keeley would call this your sparkle manual.

🌎 This week in Here - There - Every F’ing where 

If you love a good Ted Lassoism, check out Marnie's graduation address to her local high school. Let us know if you can spot all 8 of the Ted Lasso easter eggs.

Hope to meet you out and about,

Nick & Marnie