Food for thought: Spring is in the air

Springtime is here. It is a time to plant seeds and to look forward to long summer days. Since ancient times, we have greeted spring as a time to celebrate birth and renewal.

As humans, we like to mark moments of transformation and change. As well as heralding the passing of the seasons, we have created elaborate rituals and celebrations to underscore birth, adulthood, marriage and death.  Ceremony plays an important part in all of the great changes in our lives.

Ceremony eases our transition into new ways of being. It allows us to commemorate the past and to put it behind us before moving on to pastures new. It helps us to break old bonds and to build new ones. Take the example of getting married - a time of dramatic change. Fundamental relationships, like those between a mother and son, are completely transformed, so whilst a wedding is a time of great joy, many people are moved to tears as they experience a deep sense of loss.

As we contemplate change at work this year we would do well to remember the power of ceremony on the human psyche. We can use this power to help people let go of old ideas, outdated relationships and cherished habits, and to take on new ways of working and better ways of relating to one another.

And, of course, a training event is a form of ceremony. It’s said that after a training course you are allowed at least two weeks of eccentricity! Training therefore is of value not only in improving performance of current tasks, but in encouraging new approaches and new behaviours.

Enjoy the spring!