At Doblin Group, a Chicago-based consulting firm that specializes in innovation planning, you can tell that people are getting serious — because they’re rolling in the aisles. Doblin, which works with clients such as McDonald’s, Monsanto, and Whirlpool, tries to infuse humor into everything that it does — from writing reports to driving change. “Companies want innovation — theoretically,” says Larry Keeley, 43, the firm’s president. “But when innovation requires change, it can be terrifying. Using humor and storytelling can help people understand new ideas.”

That’s where the Friday morning staff meeting comes in. The firm’s analysts, designers, and strategists share data, offer updates — and riff. Their mantra? Make your presentation fast, funny, and relevant. Jessica Halem, 26, an associate at Doblin who moonlights as a stand-up comic, runs the show: “I bring an ability to think on my feet. But you don’t need to be a comic to do that.”

A version of this article appeared in the May 1999 issue of Fast Company magazine.