Invite New Rituals into Your Workday
If you put a magnifying glass up to the disruption at work caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is a change management issue at its core. And generally, humans do not like change, especially when it comes as a surprise with little or no choice in the matter. We are creatures of habit and fear the unknown. As the saying goes, “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know.” Last March, our work environments mutated quickly resulting in less face-to-face contact and connection whether you were an essential employee reporting for duty in person or you converted a corner of your bedroom into a makeshift home office.
We lost some of the comfort that accompanied our old daily patterns like happy hours with colleagues after a tough week, stopping by a friend’s desk for a laugh on your way into the office or the all-company lunches that took place on Fridays in the summer. People often seek comfort through ritualistic events during times of change. Instead of trying to cram your old routines into a new work structure to create a sense of normalcy, try creating a new set of rituals to stay connected and engaged.
The Cambridge dictionary defines the word ritual as “a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly, especially as part of a ceremony.” While some hear the word and think of a religious rite, the term also describes regular actions you take or meaningful transitions in your day. For example, the small talk that takes place at the start of your weekly meeting. Rituals are happening in your work life whether you use this formal title or not. David Schonthal and Loran Nordgren, professors at the Kellogg School of Management, point out that it is important to acknowledge your old rituals are no more – a mourning, in essence – to allow the birth of new rituals.
What new rituals would help you with this transition? Maybe you mark the end of your workday from home by enjoying a cup of tea. This action signals that your workday has ended and symbolizes a change in the “hat” you are wearing at home. A simple ritual like this can be extremely helpful for those new to the virtual work environment who may have a difficult time demarcating when work ends, and their personal lives begin! Keep in mind – you can also use rituals to purposefully make a change. Is there an area of your day or work habits you are trying to evolve? What kind of ritual may help move the lever in a positive direction? Think of this as an invitation to look around for new ways to create balance and celebrate your team.
Originally featured in UBA’s October 2020 HR Elements Newsletter.
