Webinar ‘How to Build Trust and Cohesion with Team Rituals’
The Rituals
By definition, a ritual is a series of actions (always repeated in the same way) performed primarily for their symbolic value. Its purpose is to demonstrate the power of those who perform the ritual, as well as to integrate certain individuals into the community.
Rituals can be an effective way to create a bond that generates extraordinary unity and strength in a team. Just ask the “ALL BLACKS” and their feared haka.
The New Zealand rugby team performs this Maori war dance before each match to focus and generate an invincible bond. The result is that, being a small country of just 5 million people, they have the best rugby team in the world.
Bonding Ties
Even if it’s obvious: doing activities together creates bonding ties.
Humans create bonds in many ways, through different experiences of varying intensity: from wearing uniforms or singing hymns at school as children, to university hazing, fighting for important causes, or even having to go to war.
The bond created will be greater or lesser depending on the sense and relevance of the experience. We had a clear example during the lockdown with the 8 PM clapping for healthcare workers.
In a work environment, it is often difficult to find meaning in day-to-day activities. Ideally, we work with a shared company purpose that we try to keep at the “Top Of Mind”. But usually, we are making budgets, managing clients, collaborators, or dealing with server crashes.
However, it is possible to give inherent relevance to the team, making them feel that they are part of something bigger and that it matters. And this is where team rituals are effective. Because rituals per se help to create a shared feeling of identity and trust. This has inherent meaning and sense. Hence the importance of being able to create team rituals.
Effects of Rituals
Psychologists have studied the effect of rituals on our minds.
From an individual standpoint, having personal rituals helps to reduce anxiety and enhance concentration. Look at Nadal every time he serves—the gesture ritual he performs may seem like superstition, but it helps him focus his mind to perform better. And it works because it is always exactly the same.
In the case of groups, the impact on the mind from rituals is even more fascinating.
On one hand, it still helps to reduce anxiety, as when a group repeats a ritual it eliminates negative emotions and replaces them with calm; but more importantly, it generates trust among team members in each other, which makes the group’s interest outweigh the interest of each individual. It creates a feeling of security with each other, and that is what makes great teams.
But when it comes to how to create rituals that unite teams, we must be careful with two things: that the ritual created does not disconnect the team that creates it from the rest of the company and that it does not compromise the individuality of any of the members.
If there are rituals in a company, there must be for everyone, not just for one team.
And if we do, for example, a ritual like having a few beers on Fridays at 3 PM, let’s make sure that members can attend without compromising personal responsibilities (e.g., having to pick up the kids from school).
On the other hand, in terms of forms, the more original or unconventional the ritual, the more bonding capacity it has.
Ideas
Thus, if there were a formula to create a great effective ritual for the team, it could be:
Something that the team does that is “their ritual” that identifies them and they identify with, that they do periodically and consistently, and that respects the individuality of each member.
The elements for creating rituals can include: gestures, food, stories, speeches, and various celebrations.
I conclude by sharing, as an anecdote, some rituals that I have shared at different agencies:
- Once a month, gather the best congratulatory comments from clients and meet to share them over beers, wines…
- Invent a company greeting that serves as a closure to meetings. Ours, coined by the CEO, is: FIGHT THE POWER!
- Start company meetings with a breathing or relaxation exercise.
The possibilities from each sector of activity can find elements that are even more suitable for the company’s activity and that of the teams.
Get inspired and encourage each other!
Juan Daniel Sever