Lessons about tradition from a little brown bag | Rita Barreto Craig | TEDxBocaRaton

Summary

This script highlights the power of traditions in both family and work environments. Through a personal story, the speaker emphasizes how family rituals, such as a mother's morning routine of preparing lunch bags, create love, connection, and lasting memories. The script then shifts to workplace traditions, arguing that they foster engagement, morale, and positive results, despite the common misconception they stifle innovation. With examples of leadership shaping traditions and the need for them to evolve, the message underscores how meaningful traditions—both at home and work—can transform relationships and productivity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Traditions in family life create lasting emotional bonds and shared memories, making people feel loved and connected.
• 😀 Family traditions, like preparing lunch with personalized touches, serve as touchstones that provide a sense of continuity and belonging.
• 😀 The act of passing down traditions from one generation to the next strengthens values and forms a cultural ecosystem.
• 😀 Traditions help people feel expanded by encouraging them to take positive feelings into different areas of life, such as school or work.
• 😀 At work, traditions can create a sense of community, improve communication, and foster an environment of collaboration.
• 😀 Work traditions can help bridge generational gaps and create inclusive, productive workspaces where everyone feels valued.
• 😀 Research by Gallup indicates that 70% of employees are disengaged, and one way to address this is through positive, community-building traditions.
• 😀 Workplace traditions need to be consistent, inclusive, and adaptable to be effective in building a positive culture.
• 😀 Leadership plays a key role in shaping work traditions, ensuring that they are meaningful, foster connection, and align with company values.
• 😀 Traditions can help reduce disengagement and increase employee satisfaction by making individuals feel like they belong and are cared for.
• 😀 It's important to periodically review and adapt traditions, especially when they no longer serve their intended purpose, to keep them relevant and impactful.

Q & A

What is the significance of traditions in the speaker's childhood?

Traditions in the speaker's childhood, such as the morning routine with her mother packing lunch, were an important way of creating a sense of love, connection, and stability. These rituals helped bind the family together and instilled values that expanded into the speaker's later life.

How did the speaker's mother ensure her children were ready for school?

The speaker's mother followed a structured routine: after having coffee with the father, she would wake up the children, prepare lunches, and make sure everyone was ready for school. She also created personalized lunch bags for each child, which included sandwiches, chips, cookies, and pennies for milk.

What was the mother's ritual before sending the children off to school?

Before sending the children off to school, the speaker's mother would always hug each child, look them in the eye, and say, 'Be on your best behavior, I know you'll make us proud.' This was a daily tradition that served as a reminder of love and pride.

What does the speaker mean by the phrase 'touch, connect, and expand' in the context of traditions?

'Touch, connect, and expand' refers to the impact that traditions have on individuals. 'Touch' signifies how traditions make people feel loved and cared for. 'Connect' describes how these rituals build relationships and bonds. 'Expand' refers to how these values extend beyond the immediate circle, influencing behavior and creating wider communities.

How does the speaker compare family traditions to work traditions?

The speaker highlights that, like family traditions, work traditions can provide a sense of connection and belonging. While family traditions strengthen relationships, work traditions can foster a positive work environment, encourage employee engagement, and help create a sense of community in the workplace.

What role do traditions play in employee engagement and workplace culture?

Traditions in the workplace can improve employee engagement by fostering a sense of community and making employees feel valued. They help break down barriers, encourage open communication, and contribute to creating a positive and inclusive work environment. This ultimately helps attract and retain talent.

Why does the speaker disagree with the common belief that traditions in the workplace hold back progress?

The speaker disagrees with the idea that workplace traditions hold back progress, arguing instead that they can enhance productivity and creativity. Traditions provide a foundation for building positive relationships and a cohesive culture, which ultimately contribute to better outcomes.

What example does the speaker give to illustrate the positive effects of workplace traditions?

The speaker shares a personal anecdote about working for a company that hosted a large annual Christmas party for employees and their families. This tradition created a sense of community, encouraged communication, and made employees feel valued, despite the company eventually reducing the scale of these events.

How did the speaker's family Thanksgiving tradition evolve, and what lesson was learned?

The speaker's family once tried to change their long-standing Thanksgiving tradition by serving Italian food instead of their usual dishes. While the meal was delicious, the family realized they missed the traditional dishes that held sentimental value, leading them to return to their original Thanksgiving tradition. This illustrates the importance of traditions in maintaining family connections and memories.

What does the speaker suggest organizations should do to improve employee engagement?

The speaker suggests that organizations should implement and maintain traditions that 'touch, connect, and expand' employees. By doing so, companies can create environments that foster positive relationships, boost morale, and improve overall engagement. Additionally, leaders should be open to adapting or discontinuing ineffective traditions to keep the workplace dynamic and inclusive.