Mika, my client's, father was a ship captain.

Every time the ship left the port, he gathered the entire crew. Not just the officers. Not just the decision-makers or the crew alone. Everyone.

He told them three things, every single time:

​

1. Here is where we’re going
2. Here is what we’re doing
3. And here is the part you play

​

Simple. Ritualized. Consistent.

That was the moment she realized why her own Tuesday team meetings felt… flat.

They weren’t failing because people didn’t care. They were failing because there was no story connecting the work.

Tasks? Everyone had those. Priorities? Sure. Updates? Endless. But meaning? Missing.

In Mika's world, everyone was doing their part, but it felt transactional. She described it perfectly through an intern she once managed:

He wasn’t wrong. Technically.

But this smart and capable team was not hitting their potential.

​
​

Every team runs on a story whether you name it or not

Mika realized her dad’s ritual wasn’t old-school. It was elite leadership.

Before the ship left, every crew member understood:

​

• where the ship was headed
• why the mission mattered
• how their individual job supported the whole

​

That level of shared context doesn’t create compliance. It creates alignment which fuels engagement.

Mika changed the opening of her Tuesday team meetings from "how's the weather there?" to:

​

• Here’s the big picture
• Here’s where we are
• Here’s where we’re going
• Here’s why this matters
• Here’s how each person fits into that story

​

The energy changed.

People contributed differently. Meetings got tighter. Silence turned into ownership. And “I sent the email” became “Here’s how we’re moving things forward.”

​
​

Thanksgiving is a reminder of the power of belonging rituals

We build them naturally at home:

​

• We gather
• We pause
• We reconnect
• We tell stories
• We remember why we matter to each other

​

Work is no different. Your team wants the same things your family does this week: a sense of direction. A sense of purpose. A sense of being part of something bigger than themselves.

Before the ship moved, Mika's dad created belonging. So the ship ran... not because the tasks were executed perfectly. But because the story belonged to everyone.

​
​

Try this this week

At your next team meeting, start with the Captain’s Ritual:

​

1. Here’s where we’re heading
2. Here’s why it matters
3. Here’s how each of you fits in

​

It takes 2 minutes. It changes everything.

​
​

A quiet Thanksgiving truth

Why do teams thrive? It could be because the work is easy. I think it's because the story is shared.

And as you sit around different tables this week, remember:

People will forget the tasks you assigned. But they’ll remember the way you helped them feel part of something bigger.

​
​

Need help with this? Let's chat.

My best, always,

Shar