Keynotes

It’s Only Banter

An essential keynote for today’s workplace—because in a culture of inclusion, getting it wrong is more costly than ever.

A keynote on workplace behaviour, inclusion and psychological safety

In today’s fast-evolving workplace, humour can be a double-edged sword. What was once brushed off as harmless banter can now land very differently — as exclusion, discomfort or a microaggression dressed up as a joke.

As organisations become more diverse, so does the audience for humour. And that means greater awareness is needed. Humour should build connection, not quietly erode trust.

Yet humour isn’t the enemy. In fact, it’s one of our most powerful tools. Used well, humour strengthens relationships, builds trust and supports psychological safety. Research consistently shows that laughter is fundamental to human bonding.

The goal, then, isn’t to lose humour — it’s to use it consciously. To keep it inclusive, kind and mindful of impact.

This keynote is perfect for…

Designed for organisations who are focused on inclusion, wellbeing and psychological safety, this keynote helps people pause, reflect and reset how humour shows up at work (without killing the vibe or turning everyone into the fun police).

It works particularly well for:

HR teams and Learning & Development professionals
Leaders and managers responsible for culture and conduct
Conferences, leadership away days and development programmes
Teams where banter has become uncomfortable or misunderstood
Organisations navigating inclusion, diversity and psychological safety

In short, if you’re searching for a keynote speaker who helps people balance humour, inclusion and accountability, we’re the ones to call.

Get in touch to book It’s Only Banter, a keynote that helps organisations protect culture, support inclusion and use humour in ways that bring people together, rather than push them apart.

A practical culture and inclusion keynote

This keynote explores how humour, language and microaggressions shape workplace culture and wellbeing — often without people realising it.

It brings to life the difference between intent and impact, showing how well-meant words can still cause harm, and why “I didn’t mean it like that” isn’t always the get-out-of-jail-free card people hope it is.

Workplace banter becomes problematic when:

Intent is prioritised over impact
Power dynamics are ignored
People don’t feel able to speak up or challenge behaviour
Humour creates anxiety, isolation or exclusion

The good news? Creating a respectful, inclusive culture doesn’t mean banning humour or walking on eggshells. It means being more aware, more intentional and more confident in how humour is used and challenged.

Rather than pointing fingers or draining the fun out of work, this session focuses on:

Using humour to bring people together
Communicating with empathy
Creating cultures where laughter strengthens teams instead of dividing them

It’s practical, grounded and refreshingly honest about the grey areas people navigate every day, giving people clarity, confidence and practical tools to protect culture while keeping work enjoyable.

What your people will learn

In this interactive and engaging keynote, Laughology experts explore the psychology of humour, behaviour and inclusion, without blame, jargon or judgement.

Your people will explore:

The difference between good-natured banter and harmful behaviour and how to recognise when humour crosses the line
Why good intentions don’t always equal positive outcomes, exploring Intent v’s impact.
How role, status and environment affect how humour lands
How to challenge behaviour constructively and ways to speak up early and effectively

Using humour and laughter positively and inclusively, while ensuring everyone feels safe and respected

What people say

The facilitator was great, broke down barriers and ensured everyone got involved with the very high energy levels of the presentation, successfully managed to bring some quite reserved people out of their comfort zones.

Natwest

It was the best session I’ve ever attended. The interactive aspects and exercise to create a product to make us think outside the box were brilliant and I could see how I could use them back in work.

RBS