Key Insights
- Rituals and shared practices create social cohesion, reduce anxiety, and enhance group performance in high-stress situations.
- Human survival in complex environments relies on collective intelligence, where diverse perspectives and distributed knowledge lead to better decision-making.
- Antifragile systems thrive on volatility and uncertainty, gaining strength from disorder rather than merely resisting it.
- Mindful organizing emphasizes adaptability, continuous learning, and resilience, enabling groups to navigate crises effectively.
References
- Brooks, A. W., Schroeder, J., Risen, J. L., Gino, F., Galinsky, A. D., Norton, M. I., & Schweitzer, M. E. (2016). Don’t stop believing: Rituals improve performance by decreasing anxiety. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 137, 71–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2016.07.004
- Dunbar, R. I. M. (1996). Grooming, gossip, and the evolution of language. Harvard University Press.
- Henrich, J. (2015). The secret of our success: How culture is driving human evolution, domesticating our species, and making us smarter. Princeton University Press.
- Konvalinka, I., Xygalatas, D., Bulbulia, J., Schjødt, U., Jegindø, E., Wallot, S., Van Orden, G., & Roepstorff, A. (2011). Synchronized arousal between performers and related spectators in a fire-walking ritual. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(20), 8514–8519. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1016955108
- Rossano, M. J. (2012). The essential role of ritual in the transmission and reinforcement of social norms. Psychological Bulletin, 138(3), 529–549. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027038
- Taleb, N. N. (2012). Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder. Random House.
- Weick, K. E., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2015). Managing the unexpected: Sustained performance in a complex world (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
- Xygalatas, D. (2022). Ritual: How seemingly senseless acts make us wise. Little, Brown Spark.
