24/07/26

Leaders of all kinds have something to learn from the power of rituals.

 

 

Read the article:

https://www.inc.com/nick-hobson/ive-watched-last-11-olympic-ceremonies-heres-why-power-of-ritual-matters-like-never-before.html

and answer the questions below:

 

1. What is the significance of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games?

2. How does collective effervescence contribute to human socialization and bonding during rituals?

3. Why did Adam Grant note a sense of joy missing due to lockdown restrictions post-pandemic?

4. How do shared moments of emotional intensity during rituals reinforce social bonds and create a sense of belonging?

5. According to Harvey Whitehouse’s research on ‘identity fusion,’ what can intense bond with a group lead to?

6. How can leaders in organizations and teams harness the power of rituals to foster unity and collaboration?

7. In what ways can virtual ceremonies and online team-building activities serve as new forms of rituals in the post-pandemic world?

 

Glossary

 

  • prowess – great ability or skill
  • effervescent /e-fər-ˈve-sᵊnt/ – marked by or expressing an appealingly lively quality
  • pronounced – very noticeable
  • inherent – existing in someone or something as a permanent and inseparable element, quality, or attribute
  • out-group – those people who do not belong to a specific in-group
  • derogation – the act of talking about or treating someone in a way that shows you do not respect them
  • to harness – to bring (e.g. emotion) under your control and use it
  • salient – prominent or conspicuous
  • to leverage – to use for gain; to exploit

 

Practice makes perfect

Watch and decide if the sentences below are true or false:

 

1. Dick Fosbury excelled in every sport he attempted before high jump.

2. Fosbury attempted a unique backward jumping technique.

3. Fosbury improved his record by a full foot.

4. Fosbury became a high jump champion and secured his spot in the 1968 Olympics.

5. Fosbury astounded everyone by winning a gold medal with a record-breaking leap in the Olympics.

6. Only a few high jumpers continued to use traditional techniques after Fosbury’s success.

7. The Fosbury Flop is a revolutionary technique that is also a step back in sports history.

 

Key: 1. F; 2. T; 3. F; 4. T; 5. T; 6. F; 7. T

 

Discuss:

 

  • Are you a big fan of the Olympics?
  • What is your favourite event at the Olympics and why?
  • Which is better, the winter or summer Olympics?
  • Do you think the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be successful for our Polish athletes?
  • Why are the Olympics always held in rich cities? Should they be held in a poor country for once?
 
 

 

Watch and revise!

 

The Magic of the Olympic Games!

 

 

https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/WBja6FApefPmWTT

 

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