I’ve spent the past week in London, soaking up the Christmas spirit and let me tell you, festive traditions hit differently when you’re in a chilly northern hemisphere winter. Suddenly, all the classic Christmas rituals - twinkling lights, mulled wine, hot chocolate with peppermint - make so much more sense than they do under the Aussie summer sun.
Growing up in Victoria, I remember waiting until well past bedtime for it to finally get dark enough to see the Christmas lights. Now contrast that with London, where we left a late lunch on Sunday and the sun had already set - perfect timing to enjoy the city's spectacular light displays!
It reminded me just how important it is to design traditions that fit your environment.
That’s as true in business as it is at Christmas.
Rituals and celebrations are a powerful way to build and reinforce culture. But only if they’re authentic - aligned to your mission, values, and environment. Blindly copying what others do, or holding onto outdated traditions, can dilute your message and disengage your people.
Over the years, Stuart and I have always championed the importance of meaningful recognition, especially around the holidays. One tradition we loved was sending something special to our team and the healthcare facilities we partnered with. For years, this meant chocolates, cupcakes or other sweet treats. Nice? Sure. But over time, it felt increasingly off-brand for a healthcare provider.
So one year, I pitched a new idea to our marketing and events team: fresh cherry boxes. Healthy, seasonal, delicious, and a win for Australian farmers! The team delivered (heroically), but let’s just say the logistics were a nightmare. The cherry idea never made a return, but it sparked something even better: a reset.
From that point on, our holiday rituals became more intentional - designed not just to delight, but to reflect who we were and what we stood for.
So as we head into the end of year celebrations, here’s the leadership nudge:
Are your team rituals aligned with your culture and mission - or just borrowed traditions that no longer serve?
This season is the perfect time to reflect, refresh, and reimagine.
I’d love to know: how do you design rituals that actually work for your business? Jump into the comments or hit reply - your ideas might just inspire someone else in our community.
Join Ready to Rise Now and be part of the conversation going forward.
Until next week,
PS Here's one of my favorite Aussie Christmas traditions, the Ugly Xmas Rashie!
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