The effectiveness of absence of humour in leadership in firefighting frontline communication: a reversal theory perspective

A leader's humour can be detrimental to communication effectiveness, particularly in emergency situations. Using reversal theory, we argue that the absence of humour in leadership leads to more effective communication in frontline practice because it enhances communication clarity. Combining data from a vignette study (N = 127) and two field studies (N = 134 and N = 165) among firefighters working at the frontline, the results confirm our expectations. As frontline interventions call for a serious mindset, the absence of humour in a leader increased perceived leader frontline communication effectiveness due to higher clarity in frontline communication. Overall, the findings demonstrate the critical role of leaders not displaying humour in emergency settings, and they highlight the influence of contextual factors on determining whether the use of humour is beneficial or risky in communication.