Episode #65 — When Did Being Human Become Unprofessional?

Emotions, Humour and the Unwritten Rules of Organisational Meetings

24 November 2026 | Talk to Your Meeting Doctors

We enter meetings as professionals, but we never leave our humanity at the door.

Our emotions, cultural backgrounds and sense of humour shape how we listen, participate and collaborate. Yet many organisations still associate professionalism with emotional restraint.

In this episode of Talk to Your Meeting Doctors, Martin Duffy and Paul Nunesdea welcome Stefania Federico and Jessica Beitenfeld to explore whether emotions and humour help or hinder organisational meetings.

Drawing on their multicultural experiences, our guests reflect on how humour can build trust, reduce tension and encourage creativity, while also creating misunderstandings when cultural differences are overlooked.

The conversation raises a fundamental question: does being professional mean hiding our emotions, or learning to express them responsibly?

For facilitators and meeting leaders, the challenge is not to eliminate emotions but to create conditions where people feel comfortable contributing, questioning and thinking together.

After all, a successful meeting is more than a well-managed agenda. It is a human encounter.

A question to reflect on: Are your meetings designed for people to behave professionally, or for people to bring their best human qualities into the conversation?

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