From Speed to Performance: The Role of Rituals in Saudi Teams

As organizations across Saudi Arabia scale under Saudi Vision 2030, the pace of work has accelerated. Teams are expected to move quickly, innovate continuously, and deliver under high visibility and national impact. In this environment, high performance depends on how teams think, learn, and respond together in real time.

Psychological safety plays a critical role in enabling this kind of performance. Amy Edmondson original research on psychological safety shows that teams perform better when people feel able to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and admit uncertainty early. What is often overlooked, however, is how this safety is created in practice - not through values statements or one-off workshops, but through consistent team rituals that shape daily interaction.

What High-Performing Teams Get Right About Rituals

One of the most cited examples of psychological safety in practice comes from Pixar, where teams rely on structured rituals such as the Braintrust to review work in progress. These sessions are designed to surface candid feedback early, without blame or hierarchy, allowing ideas to evolve before they become costly to change.

During the production of Toy Story 2, early versions of the film were widely considered unsuccessful. Rather than hiding this or pushing forward, teams used the Braintrust to openly acknowledge what wasn’t working and rapidly iterate. The result was not only a recovery, but one of Pixar’s most successful films - Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up - illustrating how psychological safety, embedded through ritual, supports both speed and quality.

The lesson from Pixar is not about creativity alone. It is about speed and quality. By normalizing challenge and reflection through ritual, teams are able to learn faster and make better decisions under pressure.

Academic research supports this. Our study on team rituals featured in the Harvard Business Review (HBR) and learning behaviors show that regular, predictable practices — such as check-ins, retrospectives, and structured reflection — increase trust, coordination, and performance. These rituals reduce reliance on individual courage and instead embed psychological safety into the system of work.

Importantly, Pixar’s practices are not transferable as-is. Context matters.

What This Looks Like in Saudi Organizations

In Saudi contexts, psychological safety rarely takes the form of open debate or public challenge. Respect, clarity, and relational awareness shape how people contribute. As a result, effective team rituals in the region tend to be quieter and more structured.

Rituals might include intentional check-ins before major decisions, regular moments for teams to reflect on what is working and what is not, or structured ways to invite alternative perspectives without putting individuals on the spot. These practices allow teams to challenge ideas and innovate while preserving dignity and cohesion.

As noted by Cosmic Centaurs CEO & Founder Marilyn Zakhour in her recent Inc. Arabia article, psychological safety in the region is most effective when it is built through small, recurring practices that fit the cultural context, rather than imported models that overlook how teams actually operate.

In fast-moving Vision 2030 environments, these rituals become enablers of performance. They help teams surface risk early, learn continuously, and adapt without slowing execution.

👉 Teams interested in building psychological safety in practice can reach out to our team and book a facilitated session tailored to their team.