For the past two years, we have explored how team rituals impact employee well-being and team success. Our research surveyed 929 global office workers across 60 countries and included interviews with 68 leaders and 86 individual contributors and a field experiment with an advertising agency in the Middle East. Additionally, we drew on extensive experience helping teams and organizations implement rituals.

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Our research shows that the more rituals a team engages in regularly, the higher their members’ engagement metrics. Our survey found those working on teams with high levels of rituals felt 23% more committed to their team’s purpose, experienced a 20% boost to their levels of psychological safety, achieved 28% greater interpersonal knowledge, and reported 22% higher job satisfaction, compared to those with low levels of rituals.

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However, many teams struggle to develop and maintain effective rituals. Drawing on our data and real-world experience, we offer practical guidance for team leaders to create rituals that are meaningful, adaptable, and sustainable.

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This report complements our Harvard Business Review article and provides additional insights, data, and examples. It is designed to support journalists reporting on workplace dynamics, as well as researchers and organizational leaders seeking to foster purpose and satisfaction in their teams through the power of rituals.