On skipping and swimming
Why you need rituals in your team
Hello, I hope you’re well and enjoying the Spring sunshine.
I've recently been dipping in and out of a fascinating book called The English Year by Steve Roud. It looks at all the different traditions across England that have been used to mark points in the calendar. A lot of these have died out in modern times, but it's clear how important many of them were to local communities.
For example, on Good Friday in Cambridge, locals would gather on Parker’s Piece1 to take part in communal skipping. Two men would hold a rope and women and children would "jump in". Families bought picnics and traders sold sweets and toys. The custom was also popular in Brighton and other parts of Sussex, only dying out during the second world war.
It’s made me think about and notice rituals in our lives today, and the roles they play.
It’s not unusual to hear people talk about personal rituals, and how important these can be to building positive habits. Most of us thrive with a bit of routine, and certain practices can provide a touchstone in a busy life - from a morning cup of coffee to an evening dog walk.
But we seem to talk less about group rituals, despite how important they have been throughout the history of humankind.
Of course, many traditional rituals across the world are based in religion - but these are often overlaid with non-religious rituals which we keep in some form today. Traditionally, people would not eat eggs during Lent. So they would use them up making pancakes on the day before Lent started, and begin eating them again at Easter. Modern Christmas is a complete mash-up of Christian and Pagan traditions, with a significant dose of ritual consumerism thrown in.
Rituals began as a way for groups to demonstrate and reinforce shared values and beliefs. But in doing so, they became essential to fostering a sense of community. They allow people to come together and build bonds.
On a Friday morning at 7am I (usually) swim in the sea. This is not something I would do on my own. However, it is a group activity. There is a pre-swim chat, a post-swim selfie and a lot of communal shouting. All of these are as much a part of the experience as the water itself. It is a ritual, and it is a ritual that has built a community.2
Similarly, a workplace group ritual will strengthen the connections within a team, ultimately helping them work more effectively together.
Equally importantly, a workplace group ritual should demonstrate what is important and valued within that team.
In the hybrid world of work rituals are even more important to create a shared experience and to build a sense of shared purpose.
Without all being in the same room all the time, how can we create touchpoints that allow people to feel like they belong - that they are part of something bigger than themselves?
Rituals won’t easily happen by accident, or grow organically, when we are online - so leaders need to think about the rituals they want to instigate.
As with many other factors, it's about being intentional with how we build and maintain the behaviour we want to see.
How can you build rituals for your team that reinforce your values? Here are some great ideas I’ve come across:
A weekly stand up is a ritual. If it is run in the same way each time it can be bonding as well as productive. I like to make sure there is time for people to share personal updates as well as work ones.
When people are in the office, having a shared time when everyone stops for a cuppa and a chat can demonstate that connections are important. One leader I know would always bring in croissants on a Thursday morning for her team. If you are fully remote, you could set a weekly online coffee time.
How do you celebrate success? I used to work with a fundraising team that rang a bell, nowadays a lot do it through Teams channels and a liberal use of gifs.
How about a pay day social (online or offline)?
Or on Monday morning ask everyone to share one photo from their weekend (with or without explanation)?
Or even a group skipping session…!
Parker’s Piece was the site of my first proper job, so there is some gratuitous nostalgia in mentioning it here.
Hat tip to Mark Masters for intentionally creating this as part of his You Are The Media community.