What is the central idea?
In her book “Tricky Times”, Jitske Kramer explores the concept of liminality – the unsettling in-between phase – where the old no longer works, but the new hasn’t fully taken hold.
She clarifies why many of us find it difficult to navigate today’s world: characterised by major crises, the realisation that things need to change but where solutions remain elusive, where the truth is increasingly difficult to ascertain.
Kramer emphasizes that during periods of uncertainty and disruption, the power of community and shared rituals becomes more important than ever. Leadership needs to be adaptive and responsive, as past solutions may no longer be effective.
Why should you read it?
Because the real reason for your stalling transformation project might be … grief!
In transformation projects, you ask your teams to leave behind their familiar ways of working and to adopt new (more digital/customer-focused) processes. The transition triggers fear, a sense of lost control, and even identity shifts—especially when today’s heroes are no longer the ones you need tomorrow. The author reminds us of the power of rituals in guiding people through these uncertainties.
The reflexion I made when reading this book, from my perspective as a consultant, is :
With the Agile methodology, ceremonies like the Demo, Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups serve as modern rituals—creating structure, shared meaning, and a sense of progress. It might be worth exploring rituals even further to make change less overwhelming. Everyone would benefit from making adoption more easy and faster.
Kramer’s book goes far beyond the business context. I appreciate her holistic approach, bringing together diverse views of great thinkers and economists, and offering her perspective as an anthropologist.