In the complex gears of contemporary organizations, management rites play a fundamental role. These rituals, often underestimated or even neglected, influence organizational culture, promote effective communication and contribute to the achievement of strategic objectives.
That is, management rites are essential for formation and maintenance of organizational culture, which is shaped through values, beliefs and behaviors shared by the organization's members.
In practice, they serve as vehicles to transmit and reinforce cultural elements. Regular meetings, status updates and progress reports are examples of rituals that facilitate the exchange of information, align expectations, and ensure that all team members are on the same page.
Clear and transparent communication avoids misunderstandings, conflicts and redundant efforts. Therefore, management rites provide a channel for formal communication and create an environment conducive to open dialogue and collaboration among team members.
Furthermore, they favor the achievement of the company's strategic objectives. By establishing rituals around goal setting, evaluating performance, and tracking progress, organizations can direct their employees' efforts toward priority initiatives.
Rituals like Annual strategic planning and quarterly performance reviews enable leaders and teams to regularly assess progress toward company goals and make adjustments as needed.
In this way, they also encourage the accountability and the responsibility, essential for long-term organizational success.
>> Also read this content produced by Alejandra Nadruz, Director of People & Culture at the Softplan group: Digital transformation and the positive impacts on company culture
How is business culture affected by management rites?
From the management rites, the Shared values, norms and beliefs are expressed and reinforced within the organization.
Award events and employee recognition ceremonies, for example, highlight and celebrate behaviors and achievements aligned with the company culture. By participating in these rituals, team members internalize and perpetuate cultural elements, promoting a sense of identity and belonging.
Management rites can also be used strategically to shape organizational culture, introducing new values or reinforcing specific aspects that are considered essential for the company's success.
Another important ritual is feedback exchanges, also called 1:1. Through them, trust and relationships between leaders and followers are strengthened, which positively influences the team's mental health.
In particular, rites provide the structure and predictability, helping employees understand what is expected of them and how they should behave in certain situations.
This reduces ambiguity and anxiety, promoting a more stable and safe working environment. Furthermore, rituals in the workplace facilitate building relationships and strengthening social bonds between team members.
By participating in shared rituals, employees develop a sense of camaraderie and solidarity, which contributes to a more positive and collaborative organizational climate.
Examples of management rites
- Regular team meetings: weekly or monthly meetings to discuss project progress, share updates and align strategies;
- Awards Ceremonies: special events to recognize and reward employee performance, highlighting desired values and behaviors;
- Integration events: activities to welcome new employees and introduce them to organizational culture, promoting a smooth transition and rapid integration into the team.
How to define management rites for your company
- Understand the existing organizational culture: analyze the values, norms and beliefs that currently permeate the company and identify areas that can be strengthened or developed through management rituals;
- Involve employees: solicit feedback from the team on the types of rituals they find most meaningful and effective in promoting culture;
- Be flexible and adaptable: recognize that organizational culture is constantly evolving and be willing to adjust rituals to meet the needs and demands of the organization;
- Promote consistency and regularity: Establish consistent regular intervals for performing rituals, ensuring that they become an integral part of the company's daily life.
What are Softplan’s main rituals?
The rituals applied in the softplan reinforce important behaviors and messages to strengthen two pillars of our culture: Transparency and Sustainable Results.
Monthly the Monthly Results Meetings for each Business Unit (BU), where all leaders participate and present indicators. There is also a debate on route correction strategies and alignments in the presence of the Director of this BU.
Another important rite performed quarterly is the presentation of the results of the quarter, where we update employees about initiatives and project launches.
At the end of this agenda, all directors are available to answer questions from employees, which further reinforces our culture of transparency and simplicity.
Management rites are indispensable in contemporary organizations. Therefore, it is essential that companies recognize and value the importance of these rituals, investing time and resources to develop and sustain them over time. Only then can they reap the benefits of effective management and a strong and cohesive organizational culture.
