Leaders are often in positions of formal power that they may be required to use. Power, however, creates resistance, more so for non-traditional leaders. Furthermore, because their leadership defies expectations, non-traditional leaders may need to use power more than white male leaders who can more easily rely on the influence conferred by their high status. Effective leaders convey unpleasant
... [Show full abstract] information in ways that reduce group members' resistance to it. They use humor in a variety of ways to influence others, damage opponents, and protect themselves from criticism. Humor has been shown to increase the acceptance of unpleasant information. Thus it may not be coincidence that effective leaders use group-oriented humor more than do less effective leaders. But non-traditional leaders may avoid using humor for fear of being trivialized. If humor, however, operates similarly to self-presentation as group-motivated in group processes, then it will have a greater positive effect on the performance of non-traditional than traditional leaders.
