--- title: "Lunchtime Links: Dick Costolo and Comedy’s Role in Leadership" id: "13736" type: "post" slug: "lunchtime-links-dick-costolo-and-comedys-role-in-leadership" published_at: "2012-10-09T16:38:11+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:22:03+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/09/lunchtime-links-dick-costolo-and-comedys-role-in-leadership/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/10/09/lunchtime-links-dick-costolo-and-comedys-role-in-leadership.md" excerpt: "How one big-name CEO got his roots in improv. Also: A debate post-mortem." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "C-suite" - "CEO" - "Data Management" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "For-Profit CEO / President / Owner / Partner" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lunchtime Links: Dick Costolo and Comedy’s Role in Leadership Is the way to solid leadership through a good joke? Depends on who you ask, but it’s [not an unheard-of concept (opens in a new tab)](http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/08/comedy-coaching-training-leadership-ceonetwork-jones.html) . And at least one big-time chief executive got to his perch through a little comedy. > People have Plato’s form in their mind of what a leader is, or what a CEO is, and it is a bunch of elements that I really don’t conform to at all. That and more in today’s Lunchtime Links: **Is comedy a key to leadership?** If so, Twitter’s CEO, Dick Costolo might be proof. Over the weekend, *The New York Times* published a piece regarding Costolo’s roots. He got into entrepreneurship via improvisational comedy and still carries that background with him. “People have Plato’s form in their mind of what a leader is, or what a CEO is, and it is a bunch of elements that I really don’t conform to at all,” [Costolo told the NYT’s Nick Bilton (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/technology/dick-costolo-of-twitter-an-improv-master-writing-its-script.html?pagewanted=all) . “I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I came to the conclusion that I don’t care.” The piece is a must-read, with fascinating leadership lessons. **Lessons from the debate:** We might have covered the [pre-debate lead-up (opens in a new tab)](http://associationsnow.com/2012/10/who-will-win-the-great-debate/) last week, but BusyEvent’s Brian Slawin has you [hooked up for the post-debate lessons (opens in a new tab)](http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=723) , many of which are relevant for conference-runners. A lot of good ones (smirking = bad), but our favorite is: “Make sure that if you hire a host or speaker for your event, that they have control of the situation and won’t let the audience take over.” Jim Lehrer could have used that advice. And don’t forget: There are still three more to go! **Don’t be afraid to pursue:** Tom Morrison, the CEO of the Metal Treating Institute and an active public speaker, continues his ongoing “Power of P” series with the [importance of pursual (opens in a new tab)](http://tommorrison.blogspot.com/2012/10/pursue-what-stops-you.html) : “Don’t let distractions or time wasters keep you from achieving your dream … eliminate them, go for your dreams, and execute your life plan you have built!” What endeavors have you pursued lately? **Stay in charge from the passenger’s seat:** Even if you aren’t in charge at your organization, you can still approach your job like a leader, [according to Quality Insider bloggers (opens in a new tab)](http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-article/top-10-backseat-leaders.html#) Christina Tangora Schlachter and Terry Hildebrandt. “If you are not in a position to formally influence the change,” they suggest, “instead of trying to create a leadership role, take the opportunity to change your own attitude, behaviors, and beliefs.” They also suggest that a key role you could play is one of influence. Not a leader but want to be one? If so, what have you done to help get into the leadership mindset? Tell us in the comments. (TMG archive photo) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. 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