Leading With Rituals

I had a person recently comment that they liked that I use a lot of rituals when working with groups. I am a lover of rituals. Rituals are important whether working with students or adults. We Americans think of ourselves as not being very ritualistic, but really we are. For example, did you take those first day of school photos of your kids? We did! We took one every year k-12 and even when we were leaving to move my son in for his first year of college. That picture was by the same lamppost next to our sidewalk leading into the house every year. We have them all framed together. It was even such a ritual that my son found a lamppost on Murray State’s campus and got a photo each year. I really like the Cambridge Dictionary definition of ritual: “a way of doing something in which the same actions are done in the same way every time.” Rituals are important for organizations and leaders because they help foster a sense of identity, unity, and shared purpose among members.

When I was teaching, a ritual I did for every class, every day was standing at the door to my classroom and shaking every students’ hand. It is amazing how this builds relationships and what you can tell about a student when shaking their hand. When possible, I do this when working with adults as well. It’s a ritual I do whenever possible.

Another ritual I do for workshops is have every person make a name tent. One it helps me learn names and well as personalize the experience by using names. These rituals serve as symbols that reinforce organizational values and culture, creating a sense of stability and continuity.

Rituals also enhance morale by providing meaningful moments of celebration, recognition, or reflection, which can boost motivation and engagement. For leaders, establishing rituals helps to communicate core messages consistently, build trust, and strengthen relationships within the team.

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