Blog #140: How to kindle the fire of your company culture? - the importance of rituals

This weekend I had the pleasure to sit around a campfire??. I love it. A dark forest and suddenly an open space with fire and people gathered around it. Some of the guests as well as the host had their homemade drums ready. The sound of the drums as well as the sound of the whispering leaves... I hardly knew anybody who sat around the fire, but I felt calm and connected. (Thank you ??Hilde Goris?? for creating this magical moment!).

That is what tribes have been doing for centuries. Since the discovery of the fire, people have been gathering around it.

If you look at your organisation as a tribe, just like the anthropologist Jitske Kramer does, you will understand that rituals and traditions are there to keep your tribe together. Jitske talks about campfire moments where the tribe comes together, where everybody can speak up regardless of status or hierarchy and where the stories of the tribe are told.

Everybody is equal around the fire.

Everybody can be who they are around the fire.

Everybody can speak their mind around the fire.

In these uncertain times, moments of gathering and deep connection can take away that uncertainty or even anxiety.

Of course, you cannot light campfires on parking lots in order to build that connection, but you can create campfire moments where people can speak up without fear, and with an open mind. Making sure that people trust that they can truly speak openly, is part of your company culture.

And how do you build that culture?

Rituals can support you to build and clarify that culture. Rituals are part of a company's identity.

A tribe is a living entity. Rituals create predictable moments in times of uncertainty.

Rituals have a strong connecting power. Rituals are moments of reflection, of meaning, of belonging...

Rituals are very powerful in companies on moments of celebration??, integration ?? (a new team, a new business...), closing ?(a deal, a year,..). This relates to the employee life cycle, don't you think?

So,

• your welcome aboard practices,
• your celebration when people reach a certain seniority or even their birthday,
• your actions when people get a baby or get married or go and live together,..
• but also the way you greet each other in the corridor or how you wish happy new year or happy birthday, ...
• the way you say goodbye to people for whatever reason they leave your team, your organisation,...
• the way you deal with people in difficult times: a private loss, a colleague who is in long -term sick leave or passes away, a crisis like the pandemic or like the energy crisis now...

These are all examples of the rituals you have in place. You might not call them rituals as it is just part of your company culture: 'this is the way we do things around here.' But change those rituals and you will create a different company culture. It is your company culture that defines if people will speak their truth (or not) during your campfire moments. And it is that company culture that will feed your employer brand...

This is?my?140th blog?to inspire you, decision-makers in the hiring process, to attract and keep the talent you need to grow your business, now, and in the future. For you to see how you can join the Talent Treasure Hunt.

Now, it is your turn.?Please answer the questions below:

Are you aware of the rituals in your company? If yes, which rituals do you have in place??

Thanks a lot for reading till the end and I am looking forward to reading your reactions.??

Sharing is caring, so if you believe?this?newsletter or my White Paper might benefit other people within your network, please feel free to share it with them or tag them below. I appreciate it??.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Enjoy your Treasure Hunt Journey.

Katherina

?? P.S.1: Would you like to kindle the fire ?? of your company culture? Do reply to this mail and we will set up a call so that we can assess the challenges you currently have, what you would like to achieve and if I can help you with that.

?? P.S.2: Did you check out my?newest?White Paper 9 Effective Ways to Stand out from the Crowd when Hiring??You can check it out or share it with any person who is hiring.

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About?Katherina Swings

An inspirational?connector, a multi-lingual?contributor?with international (working and living) experience, an inspirational speaker, a seasoned HR person with two decades of corporate experience, an experienced change?manager?with business savvy, a creative?writer, a certified professional?learning facilitator, a certified inclusive leadership trainer, a certified employer brander, a?multi-cultural networker, an active?listener…

My?vision?is to create a positive world by connecting people who discover each other’s strengths. The tagline of my company Co-Wings is 'Using everybody's wings to fly ??????'.

My?mission?is to support?100 000 managers worldwide to become (more) in-clusive.

================================================================???????????????????? Do check out my?139?previous blogs.?Let me know your feedback after reading them!?