Change Signal The Hidden Rituals of Change: Michael Norton
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Oct 8, 2025 
Michael Norton, a Harvard Business School professor and author of The Ritual Effect, dives deep into the world of rituals and change. He reveals that everyday rituals, like team lunches or Zoom emojis, shape organizational culture far more than top-down initiatives. Norton also introduces the concept of ambiguous loss, explaining its emotional complexities during change. He encourages leaders to blend past traditions with new practices to ease transitions, ensuring that meaningful elements of the past are honored while forging new identities.
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Rituals Are Ubiquitous And Everyday
- Rituals are ubiquitous and not limited to religious or cultural ceremonies.
- Everyday repeated actions can carry deep meaning and structure people's lives.
Rituals Differ From Habits
- Habits are automatic processes while rituals add order and emotion to actions.
- Rituals matter in the sequence and manner things are done, giving them meaning beyond utility.
Let Teams Invent Rituals
- Favor team-invented rituals over top-down corporate formulas.
- Encourage idiosyncratic, locally created practices to drive positive work outcomes.
