Rituals - At Work
I recently wrote about the importance of having your employees feel they belong, of having a high level of “groupiness” within the team. Belonging at work has been linked to a 56% increase in job performance, a 50% drop in turnover risk, and a 75% reduction in sick days (Harvard Business Review). You want your people to feel a sense of belonging to their team and to your organization!
One way to build that sense of groupiness, it was noted, is by incorporating rituals into your team’s activities. I’ve gotten a few questions about how exactly one can do that in a work environment, and, with the help of my friend Gerald Wagner at the Academy of Culture Ambassadors, I’ll share some ideas.
First, let’s start with a definition of what a ritual is. According to Gerald, “A ritual is a repeated sequence of intentional actions for specific events, purposes, and outcomes.” They are steps that make a routine activity special. (And, if they “stick”, then they can become time-honored and beloved traditions.) “Performing a group ritual enhances affiliation with fellow group members and signals group loyalty and trust.” By doing things together, in a ritualized way, you will enhance your team’s sense of connection – and their level of groupiness, of belonging.
An example of a ritual can be seen in how to eat an Oreo cookie, which is the same the whole world over: First, twist the cookie, then lick the cream filling, put the cookie back together, dunk the Oreo in milk, and eat it.
So in your work setting, think about activities that are repeated on a regular basis (meetings, announcements by leaders, birthday celebrations, etc.). How can you take these activities and create steps around them that mark them as special?
In a meeting, perhaps you can start the meeting in a way that reflects your company’s culture. Some organizations start with a moment of mindfulness, where everyone centers themselves in the room in order to focus on the topic at hand. Some open by going around the room and sharing a highlight of the week, a challenge they are currently facing, or recognition of another team member’s positive actions. How might you start or end a meeting in a special way?
For announcements by company executives, they may have a unique way of getting the group’s attention or of beginning their presentation. I’ve seen businesses where the speaker comes on stage (or on screen) to a specific song or who always commences (or closes) with the same phrase. What personal actions could you take to create a ritual with your people? What would you like to see from your organization’s leaders? (Remember, this should be comfortable and authentic for the person doing the talking!) And how can this be shared with them?
Celebrations often have their own rituals built in – whether it’s serving cake (or similar) and singing a song (e.g., “Happy Birthday” or “For S/He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”) – but you can also design a ritual for a specific event. Perhaps you’d like to host a happy hour in the staff lounge on Fridays at 5 or have an off-site retreat/event. While these are great activities on their own, you can make them even more special by adding a ritual – to the opening or ending or as something that always happens at some point during that activity.
Where can you add rituals into your everyday routines?
How can you take your special events and ritualize them in a way that builds “groupiness”, that sense of belonging and of being an insider with the group?
What are you already doing that you can build on?
Sources:
Academy of Culture Ambassadors, President Gerald Wagner - https://preview.mailerlite.com/e7k2v3e5o3/1910872058414242704/w0g6/