Dr. Daniel Lattimore on Improv Agility, Building Community, and Humor as a Leadership Tool

This week, host Liz Sweigart is joined by Dr. Daniel Lattimore — stand-up-comic-turned-consulting-psychologist and Community Domain Leader for the Society of Consulting Psychology. Daniel, the founder of Omiyo Consulting, traces his arc from bombing a college open-mic to integrating affiliative humor and improv principles into executive coaching. He and Liz unpack why leaders often feel like “Superman alone on stage,” how moments of laughter can create psychological safety, and why he’s happiest switching between front-of-room “leader” and supportive “first follower” roles.

Highlights

• How a failed stand-up set nudged Daniel toward psychology — and showed him comedy’s deeper therapeutic power.
• What sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld taught international students (and now executives) about belonging.
• Destigmatizing humor at work: using jokes to ease tension, not dismiss it, and timing laughter to open hard conversations.
• The “leader ↔ follower” dance: when to cast a vision, when to amplify someone else’s, and how community multiplies impact.
• An invitation to leaders who value connection: Daniel's offer to brainstorm creative, cost-effective ways to support people and cultures.