After experiencing uncertainty, research shows that individuals are more likely to believe that strange rituals will improve their luck and fortune. The rituals, it seems, help create an illusion of control. We are all prone to doing this. For example, athletes will wear the same pair of ‘lucky socks’ in the belief it will somehow improve their performance. We might select the same lucky numbers when buying a lottery ticket.In the workplace, are there any particular responses to uncertainty that could be counterproductive? For example, a colleague of mine once made an interesting observation that unpredictable environments drive an influx in procedures and documentation. It was their belief that the documents provided the illusion of control. Is the development of procedures a form of ritual?
‘big picture’ people are more powerful
Individuals who use abstract or ‘big picture’ communication are perceived as more
