Habits and customs are activities that take place in a ritualized way. Because of their ceremonial character they are easily recognizable. And they serve for something; the main goal of an official ritual is to control the emotion with which the activity is involved.

The rituals that we recognize most are those in which our own (family) life is involved – birthdays, graduations, marriage, even a new job could be categorized as such; it is an event in which you can celebrate. And we all celebrate differently. We handle the emotion in our own way. For some the job is just a job ( a rational approach, with little emotion) for others it is a real change.

In business there are even so many rituals, some of them easy visible as such (retirement of employee, project initiations, product introductions) others less visible (the gossip in the coffee corner). There are various reasons why also in business these rituals are important. First they identify your business, they give you organization a face and a means for people (employees) to feel part of the group. The way in which your company celebrates its positive results uncovers some of the identity.

Also, rituals are that part of your company culture that is highly recognizable and therefore it offers an opening for change. Rituals give expression to the style of the organization and this style is prone to alterations. Organizations are influenced by societal changes and these changes are reflected in the way people celebrate activities. And more important, it is not only what they choose to celebrate, but also how they dress the ceremony. You can only spend your money once and how this is done reveals the company’s priorities.

Other style elements, like some of the unwritten rules, are much harder to discuss because they are not easily to be identified (visible). Rituals behaviour support your discipline. Discipline is key for any organization. It is about not questioning everything but just doing what needs to be done. Because of the recurring and repeating character, the rituals form the stable part of your business even in less prosperous times.

© 2006 Hans Bool