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Familiar territory. Most people have rituals, such as how they take coffee or tea in the morning, or how they mark milestones like birthdays and weddings. A ritual is “a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order,” according to an archeology professor. The earliest example of an ancient ritual is the burial of a Neanderthal woman found in Israel. Rituals help people feel more secure and in control in times of crisis and uncertainty. They also bring people together to bond around major life events. [The Conversation]
Unwind from the daily grind. When you’ve shut down the laptop after a grueling work week, do thoughts of work continue to spring up in your head? If weekends consist of ruminating about the past or anxiously anticipating the future, it’s time to give yourself permission to shut down and fully enjoy your time off. A five-minute Friday ritual could help create a more relaxing weekend, one computer science professor suggests. One of the steps is to make a pact with yourself to not entertain intrusive work thoughts during days off. [Inc.]
End the ‘me’ mentality. The COVID-19 pandemic halted many office rituals, from watercooler banter to in-person celebrations recognizing employees’ achievements. While some organizations have been intentional about bringing back the physical aspect of work, other companies rely on virtual get-togethers. In this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger suggest that the absence of strong workplace rituals may lead some employees to adopt a “me” mentality.
Personal touch. Workplace rituals matter because they help define culture. For example, prepandemic, teams often held farewell dinners to honor departing colleagues. “Sending a well-crafted email celebrating someone leaving is just not the same as getting together and having a little bit of roast, a little bit of toast. Knowing that people traveled and made an effort to get there—that matters,” Schaninger says. Learn to foster the development of rituals, prioritize connectivity, and create opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate workers.
— Edited by by Katrina Parker, editor, Atlanta
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