Lighten Up! The Serious Business of Humor in Coaching

Humor isn’t just for laughs—it’s a powerful, science-backed coaching tool that builds resilience, fosters psychological safety, and unlocks transformational insights. Yet many coaches hesitate to use it, fearing it may seem unprofessional.

In this interactive, hands-on learning lab, you’ll discover how strategic humor can align with ICF Core Competencies and elevate your coaching impact.

What to Expect:

Explore the neuroscience of humor and its impact on cognitive function, resilience, and emotional regulation.
Learn practical humor techniques to deepen trust, enhance presence, and maintain professionalism.
Engage in live demos, group discussions, and real-world exercises to apply humor intentionally and effectively.

Whether you’re naturally witty or a bit humor-shy, this session will equip you with science-backed strategies to bring levity and lightness into transformational coaching conversations.

Transformation doesn’t have to be heavy—let’s coach with levity!

Speakers:

Bincze Bea PCC

Bea is an executive coach, author and humor ambassador who blends improv, humor, and psychology to boost creativity, communication, and leadership. With 25+ years in global leadership and experience coaching 100+ TEDx and Forbes speakers, she helps people laugh more, complain less, and perform at their best.

Karyn Buxman

Karyn Buxman is a neurohumorist, author, and international speaker who blends humor with neuroscience to boost performance and well-being. A National Speaker’s Association Hall of Fame inductee, she empowers leaders to use strategic humor for success and joy.

Sue Stevenson PCC

Sue Stevenson is a Neurostrategist, global executive coach, and Certified Humor Professional who blends neuroscience, strategic humor, and positive psychology to unlock human potential. Through her practice, Lifted Fog, she helps leaders thrive. She’s also an author and keynote speaker known for inspiring talks on resilience, humor, and the brain.

This workshop is a free online event, organized by the ICF Hungarian Charter Chapter.

Zoom link will be sent out 24h before the event starts.

By joining this event, you earn 2 Continuing Coach Education (CCE) Units.

ICW – International Coaching Week

International Coaching Week is a weeklong global celebration of the power and impact of professional coaching. We hope you can join us for ICW 2025, which takes place May 12-18!

During this celebration, we encourage individuals and organizations all over the world to understand, explore, test, and discover the possibilities coaching provides. You are welcome to join a variety of ICW events, webinars, conferences, educational workshops, panel discussions, public coaching demonstrations, pro bono sessions, and many more activities organized by ICF chapters and members in their local communities.