Integral to the structure of Tony’s organization are its rituals. Many companies today have dispensed with the extracurricular ceremonies and activities that bind people together. Company picnics, holiday parties, honors (such as "salesperson of the week"), birthday celebrations, and other nonwork aspects of a company’s culture often are eliminated. In some instances, these activities are eliminated because of cost concerns, while in others, organizations merge and long-standing rituals no longer seem relevant. And some companies find these activities a waste of time or hokey remnants of the past.
Unfortunately, when organizations excise these rituals they also remove some of the emotional glue that binds people together. Companies become sterile places to work when all they promote is work. The tangential, nonwork traditions are often central to why people stay at organizations; things such as parties and picnics humanize bosses; they allow employees and sometimes their families to get to know each other; they give everyone a chance to play together rather than just work together. All this builds relationships and indirectly benefits a company’s ability to retain and attract people; it also fosters better communication.
Tony and his crew share a common language, assumptions, and philosophy. Some may argue that this is because of their ethnic background as well as the fact that they are all men. While this may be true to some extent, the main thing that binds them together are their rituals—rituals that are integrated into the work routine and are crucial parts of belonging to the organization. The Soprano family’s rituals include:
- Celebrations when you get your stripes
- Having your boss be the godfather of your child
- Parties at the Bada Bing! when you get out of prison
- Paying homage (passing the envelope or whatever fell off the truck) at funerals, graduations, birthdays
- The annual holiday party for the children
- Sunday dinners at Tony’s
Corporate rituals are for all levels of employees and run the gamut, from annual retreats for executives and their families to golf outings to charitable functions sponsored by the company. One organization’s ritual was an afternoon softball game scheduled every Friday throughout the summer. This was a highly competitive company that embraced a "Work hard, play hard" philosophy. This ritual allowed people to blow off steam, to toast accomplishments with beer after the game, and to see hardcharging leaders having fun and making fun of themselves when they muffed a fly ball. Another company hosted an annual meeting that involved an elaborate awards ceremony to honor top performers. This company had a warm, relationship-focused culture, which the ceremony served to reinforce. After each award was made, the ceremony stopped and everyone flocked toward the award-winner, giving him or her hugs and kisses and generally treating the winner like he or she had just hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Tony respects the traditions of his family and he joins them seamlessly to the business. Just as importantly, he takes the time to ensure that these rituals are carried out effectively. Take a moment and see if your attitudes and actions regarding rituals are up to Tony’s standards.
Do you know your company’s rituals? Does the company hold any annual parties or outings and, if so, what makes them special and unique to your company; are there charitable events that your company sponsors and that require employee participation; are there annual retreats for executives or other people in the company?
What do you do to facilitate and honor these rituals? Do you host celebrations for your people when they achieve a goal or finish important projects; do you encourage people to participate in company rituals and do you participate?
Can you think of new activities or ceremonies that you might implement if your company is ritual-deficient? Have you ever invited your group to a barbeque or a poker game; have you ever taken your people to the ballpark or racetrack; do you ever propose activities that would allow people to relate to each other in nonwork settings?