Power of Belonging
A few weeks ago, I was waiting for my evening train at the station. Everyone around me was hooked onto their mobile screens. Nothing unusual, except that there was palpable excitement in the air. Everyone waited with bated breath as the clock struck 6 PM. Suddenly there was uproar. People looked up from their screens and smiled at each other. They shook hands. They shouted slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Hind. India had landed on the moon.
Chandrayaan 3 brought every Indian together like no previous space mission had in the recent past. Whatsapp was flooded with wishes and jubilant messages. Social media was abuzz. Everyone who was watching the landing, no matter where – we were all united by one common emotion – pride for ISRO,, pride for the feat that we had achieved, pride for being Indian. At that moment, all of us were Indians first. And all of us felt connected as one.
This phenomenon is known as collective effervescence coined by one of my favourite sociologists – Emile Durkheim. According to Wikipedia – a community or society may at times come together and simultaneously communicate the same thought and participate in the same action. Such an event then causes collective effervescence which excites individuals and serves to unify the group. Durkheim pointed this out in his study of the religious practices of the Arunta tribe from Australia, published in the seminal The Elementary forms of Religious Life.
This sort of unification is the cornerstone for nurturing any diverse group. Nothing brings people closer like collective wins and shared adversity. But the strength of such events to unify group largely varies. Critical thinkers were quick to point out how Chandrayaan celebrations were misplaced as India still had many basic things to take care of. Whereas, advertising agencies were quick to place client brands/products onto the moon to cash-in on this landmark event.
Even if the Chandrayaan may not directly influence our daily lives, knowing that we belong to a nation set on the path of scientific progress is a good feeling. The Nehruvian concept of scientific temper as enshrined in our Constitution continues to guide the stride of progress is heartwarming. It is however, time to live and practise the other ideals of equality and justice enshrined in our constitution as well.
But such events are not common at the global or national level. However, collective effervescence can be felt on a daily basis. Take for example, watching a blockbuster hit like Jawaan in the Gaiety-Galaxy (G7) complex. The audience from all strata of the society (both in Stall or Balcony) unites as one as the protagonist takes down the bad guy. There is a pulsating energy coursing through the hall. Or in a stadium watching your favourite team play well. Or at the nearest Ganpati pandal where a collective rhythm flows through the devotees at the time of the daily aarti.
In the Context of Organisations
Collective effervescence in the organisational context is felt when collective goals are met. When a challenge is successfully overcome and every member feels connected to the efforts underway. While this cannot be artificially engineered, driving common purpose across the organisation definitely helps.
Many good leaders possess this ability — of establishing common connections, they show how the dots connect and how every member of the group contributes to the bigger picture. This bottom up and top-down mapping of efforts and outcomes helps to put together the missing parts of the puzzle. And once common purpose flows through all the chains and levels, the energy is electric.
Every person seeks to belong. This need for belongingness is a core human need which drives motivation. All of us have felt more motivated to work on projects where we know that we matter. Our contributions count for something and will lead towards a greater goal. Collective effervescence makes us feel like we are part of something. And that drives each one of us.
Therefore, if there’s one takeaway from Chandrayaan 3 – then it is that there is immense power in collective wins. And as leaders, it should be our moral duty to create and nurture moments that lead to collective effervescence which unify the group and provides meaning for its existence.