Last year I wrote about the variety of ways different cultures celebrate Christmas and the year-end festivities around the world. This year, we’ll take a closer look at the Mexican Posadas custom (a Mexican tradition weaving together community, faith, and celebration), and how we can apply a posada mindset into daily operations to generate a better sense of connection and belonging within your team.
Posadas are rooted in a large collection of values and offer powerful lessons for leaders. Does your leadership approach reflect the same spirit of unity and generosity?
The posadas, a nine-day celebration leading up to Christmas that is repeated every year starting December 16th, symbolizes the Christian beliefs of the journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem.
Let’s talk about some of the key activities involved in these festivities:
- Shared Hosting Responsibilities: Hosting rotates among families, with each household taking pride in preparing their space to welcome others.
- Collective Singing: Some participants lead the singing of villancicos or Christmas carols, ensuring everyone takes part in the celebration.
- Organizing Activities: Others help coordinate key activities like setting up the piñata or distributing sparklers to children, as well as supervising.
- Collaborative Food Preparation: Making tamales becomes a teamwork effort, with each person contributing and turning the hard work into an opportunity for bonding
- Inclusion of All Ages: Even the youngest participants have roles, such as holding candles during the procession or assisting with simple tasks under supervision
- Valuing Every Contribution: Everyone has a role — hosting, singing, or preparing food — showing the communal nature and the power of collective effort
What Leaders Can Learn from the Posada Mindset
Some say every aspect of life can bring lessons. I believe this to be true, especially in festivities such as these. For this reason, I recommend you apply the posada mindset and take into account the following:
Hospitality and Inclusion
Posadas teach the value of opening doors and welcoming others.
- Practice active listening and create inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen and heard, regardless of background or role
- Encourage acts of kindness within your team and beyond, inspired by the spirit of giving in posadas
The Strength of Shared Traditions
The repetitive, familiar rituals of posadas foster belonging and trust within a community.
- Establish meaningful, consistent practices in your team to build cohesion and trust
Collaboration and Contribution
From organizing the procession to preparing food, posadas thrive on shared responsibility
- Encourage team members to contribute their unique strengths, recognizing that collaboration is key to success
- Acknowledge team and individual efforts regularly
Joyful Connection as a Leadership Tool
The posadas‘ celebratory atmosphere reminds us of joy’s importance in creating connection.
- Build a Culture of Generosity
- Foster positivity and shared moments of celebration to strengthen team bonds
- Introduce team traditions that reflect your organizational values, such as celebrating milestones or learning from challenges
A Posada Mindset for Global Leaders
At its core, a posada reflects values deeply embedded in Mexican culture—collectivism, shared responsibility, and the joy of connection. These traditions remind global leaders of the power of fostering a sense of belonging and purpose within diverse teams.
By adopting the posada mindset, leaders can foster diversity, unity, and shared joy, strengthening teams and building resilient, global organizations.
Mexican posadas exemplify collectivism, where everyone has a role and success is achieved through shared effort. Leaders can be inspired by creating team dynamics where collaboration is prioritized over individual achievements and everyone’s contribution is valued.
The spirit of indulgence—seen in the shared food, singing, and celebration—teaches leaders that moments of joy and connection are not distractions but essential to building trust and cohesion. In intercultural teams, recognizing and honoring cultural expressions of celebration can help bridge divides and create stronger, more inclusive environments.
As you reflect on your leadership this season, ask yourself: How can you learn from traditions like posadas to cultivate connection, collaboration, and cultural awareness within your teams?
In addition to your post about Christmas traditions worldwide, I would like to share that in the Ayacucho department of the Peruvian Highlands, Christmas is characterized by the music of harps, violins, and quenas. The decoration of Christmas scenes with straw and clay figures adorns houses and streets. These nativity scenes are true works of art, showcasing local crafts, and are accompanied by colorful dances that fill the streets 😊