A ritual is uniting your corporate community in inspired action.

I believe spirituality has a place in the workplace. That it can inspire and align employees around your company's purpose, in the right translation and dosage. How do you feel about it? 

Here’s the assignment:

Take 60 leaders within the Federal Government Department of Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, through a never-before-seen experiment: an organisational ritual around Healthy Leadership, as a culmination of the leadership path these leaders had been on for the past two years.

60 Public health leaders came together in a gripping organisational ritual around Healthy Leadership.

It became a lived and animated moment where healthy leadership within the Governmental Health Department was seen, celebrated and validated. In which the new generation of leaders received the recognition they deserve. In which they demonstrated their leadership, in words and images. In which they reflected on their development and celebrated their growth.

In the heart of Brussels, one big circle of leaders gathered around a luminous spiral, symbol of birth and rebirth, of eternal deepening and growing consciousness, laid down in gold, the color of inner transformation. A circle of young leaders, ambitious leaders, passionate leaders. Among them several members of the executive committee, enthusiastically and engagingly participating.

Fire passed from hand to hand, accompanied by words that defined healthy leadership: equality, humility, wisdom,.... With eyes closed in meditation, walking back in time, through the spiral, reliving past moments of growth, success and grief. Exchanging with each other about their personal leadership, the inspiration, the mission, the courage. Looking ahead to the leader they want to be tomorrow.

They exchanged with each other about their personal leadership, the inspiration, the mission, the courage. Looking ahead to the leader they want to be tomorrow.

As an apotheosis and by way of showing up, each leader went through the spiral all alone, spurred on by the drum, while dancing, running, parading in high heels even, to take a personal oath about their leadership. As for me, the most beautiful came from one of the sponsors of this ritual: ‘My symbol of leadership is my heart. I always carry it with me. Leading this organisation I do with all my heart.’

The beautiful spiral shell, now filled with golden intentions, today has a central place in the Federal Government Public Health building.

I take a bow to everyone who was there and made this possible.Thank you FPS Public Health. Thank you sponsors, hierarchy and all colleagues involved!

Some reactions from internal leaders and board level:

'Thank you all, it was a rich experience! The first stone has been laid...and in my opinion also the most important stone...because the concept of the ritual has been accepted within the FPS in all its sections....'

'I look back on this with great satisfaction, it was a very successful ritual, there are always possibilities for improvement but the keynote was right.'

'Everyone really empathized and participated 100%, while that is not evident in such a large and diverse organization.'

'A really innovative practice. We are definitely open to doing more with this in the future.'

'Thank you for carrying this ritual, not an easy task to provide a safe bed for such a large group. Impressive!