The Unexpected Strength of Team Rituals

Rituals are collective activities that team members regularly engage in and attribute meaning to. They can have a significant impact during times of change or transition. A research study, which involved a survey of 929 individuals from 60 countries and a field study in an advertising company, found that teams with more rituals experienced higher levels of engagement, psychological safety, interpersonal knowledge, and job satisfaction. To design and implement rituals successfully, a team can follow these five measures: leaders need to have faith in and commitment to the rituals, imbue the rituals with meaning, ensure consistent participation, adapt the practice while keeping the faith, and communicate the value of the rituals to other teams.