Exploring how spontaneous humour affects dyadic coaching experiences : a heuristic inquiry

Humour is fundamental to human interactions across cultures; however, little research exists on how it is experienced within coach-client dyads, despite humour’s potential to foster connection, reflection and insight. This study explores how spontaneous humour affects dyadic coaching experiences by comparing my experiences with those of six coaches and six clients using heuristic inquiry. Findings highlight that humour positively impacts relationships by building connection, trust, bonding and affinity. Additionally, humour enables clients to tackle painful or uncomfortable topics by reducing emotional intensity, offering reassurance and alleviating distress. Interestingly, clients also use humour to support the coach. It is recognised as critical for fostering enquiry; however, it is not utilised when addressing the client’s progress. This study found that spontaneous humour, when used authentically and responsively, can enrich the coaching relationship, support emotional processing and serve as a gentle yet effective tool for enquiry and challenge. Far from being a distraction, humour emerged as a dynamic and multifaceted element of relational practice – capable of building connection, levelling power dynamics, easing discomfort and reinforcing belonging. However, its use also carries risks, particularly when misaligned with the moment, misunderstood or left unacknowledged. Three findings stood out as particularly significant: the role of humour in expressing authenticity, the subtle ways in which clients use humour to reassure coaches and the need for coaches and clients to gain implicit or explicit permission before fully incorporating humour into their conversations. These insights, brought to life through evocative accounts and integrated into the Relational Jam Model, invite a rethinking of humour not as an optional extra but as a deeply relational, performative and co-constructed feature of coaching. When used with attunement, courage and care, humour has the potential to support profound human connection and transform the coaching encounter.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Author dc:creator

• Lowe, David

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jackson, Peter
• Huber, Guy

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/r3c6-sy90

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:765400b6-16c1-4685-9fe7-b4483a08f718:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1