In this episode of Harmonious Workplaces, hosts Rich Cruz, Sharyl Volpe, and Ben Kleinman explore the power of habits and rituals in the workplace, and how they can be used to build culture and sustain change. They emphasize the importance of intentionality when creating rituals.
Habits vs. Rituals
The hosts begin by defining habits and rituals. A habit is described as a regular action that is often done without thought, whereas a ritual is a series of actions performed with intention and meaning. The key difference is intentionality. The hosts discuss how habits and rituals can be positive or negative, and that even the act of recording the podcast is a ritual for them.
The Power of Rituals in the Workplace
The discussion draws from a Harvard Business Review article by Zakhour and Noonan Hadley, who define rituals as “collective activities that members of a team engage in regularly and to which they attribute meaning”. The podcast hosts provide examples of workplace rituals such as:
- Icebreakers
- Team check-in meetings
- Retrospectives
- Formal onboarding processes
The HBR article highlights the benefits of team rituals, including:
- 23% more commitment to the team’s purpose
- 20% boost to levels of psychological safety
- 28% greater interpersonal knowledge
- 22% higher job satisfaction
These rituals provide certainty, connection, and space for employees to engage with each other and connect to the purpose of their work. They can act as a stabilizing force, helping to unite employees and shepherd them through change.
Rituals, Habits, and Success
The hosts also discuss the importance of habits and rituals to achieving success. Drawing from Napoleon Hill’s book Outwitting the Devil, it is noted that successful people have a definiteness of purpose (intentionality), use the “law of hypnotic rhythm” (habit), and have patience allowing things to happen in their own time. Good rituals combined with good habits over time can lead to success. Conversely, a lack of intentionality and drifting can lead to negative habits and unraveling. The hosts also bring up the story of Faust to demonstrate the dangers of meandering without purpose.
Building a Culture of Rituals
The hosts emphasize that rituals should be imbued with meaning and aligned with a team’s “what, how, and why”. They suggest that leaders should have faith in the positive effects of rituals, be disciplined about participation, and be willing to adapt the practice while keeping faith in the process. The podcast hosts note that rituals are a key part of most faith traditions, and that they can support intentionality and build in-group trust.
The hosts also highlight the importance of the manager/worker relationship, noting that this relationship is often the linchpin of whether someone is happy and stays at work. This is tied to the idea of perceived organizational support, where people feel they have a good relationship with their management.
Examples of Workplace Rituals
The podcast also provides a few examples of workplace rituals, such as:
- Agile stand-ups: These are short daily meetings where everyone shares what they are working on and where they need help.
- EOS Level 10 meetings: These meetings follow a ritualistic format, where teams set and review their “rocks” (SMART goals).
Maintaining Flexibility
The hosts also note that rituals, while beneficial, should not become so ingrained that they prevent adaptation to change. If a ritual is no longer serving its purpose, it needs to be jettisoned in favor of something that continues to foster camaraderie and team goals. This idea of change can be difficult because people can develop strong attachments to rituals, even when they are not good.
Key Takeaways
Listeners are encouraged to consider their personal rituals, as these can help to reveal their values and help them feel authentic. The podcast hosts conclude by noting that:
- You should believe in the ritual and what it is meant to do.
- You should be disciplined about doing the ritual regularly.
- You should be willing to change the ritual if it’s no longer healthy.
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