Honor the Rituals
Dear Erin,
I think you recognize this guy! Dad had his 3rd “White Coat” ceremony last week, an event held annually since he started the residency program at his hospital three years ago. The press attended and snapped this picture, which it featured in the local newspaper.
As you know, the ceremony marks the milestone of when a medical student begins their residency program, officially donning their “white coat” to mark the start of their journey as a practicing physician.
In truth, it’s a bit performative, but then rituals so often are. That doesn’t mean they are any less important - especially in business. In the case of the White Coat ceremony, the new residents actually became physicians when they graduated med school. They had interim milestones as well: taking the boards obtaining their physicians’ licenses. Moreover, they’ll find themselves wearing scrubs as often as white coats once they start work. That’s okay. It’s still a HUGE deal when they start their residencies at their new hospitals. Huge for them, huge for the hospital, huge for the community and huge for their families and friends. The White Coat ceremony is a moment to recognize all that - add a little pomp and circumstance and welcome them into the community. Invite everyone to applaud them for an afternoon. Their work will be hard enough in a day or two. It’s really a nice ceremony, filled with pride and joy and hope for what is to come.
Businesses often forsake rituals, recognizing a few federal holidays or leaning in to whatever “national day” is trending on social media. Taco Tuesdays anyone? Did you know that today is National UFO Day? (Seriously.) These can be fun, and who doesn’t love tacos, but they aren’t culture-building rituals. Real rituals, rituals that matter, require intention and the willingness to do a bit of work to make them happen. To do rituals right, you need to embrace your values and find rituals that align to your organization’s mission. What drives you? What event or milestone calls on you to reflect, honor, celebrate and look forward?
It could be anything - as long as it means something to you. It could be as personal as celebrating the birthday of each and every person on your team. It could be an annual event or fundraiser. It could indeed be a recognized holiday. An anniversary. Maybe it’s something in your sector that matters to you, like a festival. (I’m thinking a dance festival…but I do know some businesses that close down for Burning Man or SXSW!) It could be that thing you do that is unique to your world. Maybe you already are doing it, you just haven't called it a ritual yet. Maybe it’s something you do every time to celebrate a new work being launched or opening night of a performance. Maybe it’s public; maybe it is just between you and the other artists - as long as it is a regular thing, it’s a ritual.
Perhaps you aren’t really doing anything special for yourself, your team, your community or your organization - yet. Think on that. Work can be a grind, there’s no getting around it. But having something to look forward to, to work towards, to celebrate once it arrives provides some meaning in an otherwise hectic world.
Opportunities for joy are so often overlooked. Rituals like Dad’s White Coat Ceremony are a reminder to live in the joy - and maybe even live for the joy.
Love, Mom
picture credit: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
