About this quote

Humor is often the best shield against the crushing weight of high-stakes responsibility. When you make the final calls, taking yourself too seriously leads to paralysis. A well-timed joke about your own shortcomings keeps the people around you grounded. It breaks the tension in rooms filled with dry bureaucrats. Can you laugh at your own habits while still steering the ship?

When to use it

• A senior IT manager tells his team before heading into a grueling five-hour corporate training session: 'Call my cell if the database goes offline, even if the CEO is mid-speech.'
• A tired mother lays down for a Saturday afternoon nap and tells her teenager: 'Only wake me up if the house is flooded or the dog learns how to talk.'
• A restaurant owner tells the head chef before a busy weekend shift: 'Do not hesitate to pull me out of my office billing work if the main freezer stops running.'