Blog #147: How to create predictable moments in times of uncertainty? One non-negotiable

Last Sunday I have lit the third candle???? ?? of our advent wreath. A pre-Christian tradition to count down to the moment that the light returns around December 21st. The first Christians have been building on existing rituals to build and expand their religion. Great marketers, they have been ??. The return of the light???? became the birth of Jesus Christ...

I just love the idea that nature shows us that darkness ?? is not here to stay... And the counting down visualises the return of the light step by step.

I just love keeping this tradition alive, just like my mother used to and my grandmother and my great-grandmother

Traditions and rituals are part of any community, any group of people. Your company is a community right? So, you have traditions and rituals too, even if you do not realise it... What could be the traditions/rituals you have?

• How do you say hello to your colleagues? A long time ago I worked in the French-speaking part of Belgium. And when I entered the office, an open space with at least 20 colleagues, I was expected to say hi individually to each and every person and also give a kiss on the cheek. When you walked in the corridor later on the day and you passed by somebody you checked each time: 'did we say hi already?' If not, you would greet that person the same way. These were some unwritten 'rules' (rituals) that were made clear to you very quickly.
• Do you have rituals related to the onboarding of a new team member? Is there something you do for each new team member to make the new person feel welcome? This can be something small like decorating the workplace of the newcomer in a colourful way or writing their name on a wall where the whole team has already put their name or a favourite quote for example. A welcome ritual.
• Do you have a ritual in place to celebrate the end of the year or the start of the new year? Maybe you hand out your end-of-year wishes to everybody or say thank you for the moments you have shared together in the year that has gone by or...

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.

A tribe is a living entity, but the rituals create predictable moments in times of uncertainty. Just like my advent wreath, four Sundays before Christmas, every Sunday another candle ??.

• 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...), and closing (a deal, a year,...),...
• Rituals are part of a company's identity.
• Rituals make your company culture tangible.

This is?my?147th?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. Having connecting rituals in place is definitely part of it.

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

Which rituals do you have in place or would you like to create?

If you need some help to build an appealing company culture with rituals that make your company culture tangible, do not hesitate to take up contact.?

If you need more inspiration. Just click the link and enjoy reading my?White Paper with 9 Effective Ways to Stand Out from the Crowd .

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 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

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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?146?previous blogs.?Let me know your feedback after reading them!?