From the media hype, you would think all 316 million Americans were glued to their televisions, with their family or friends gathered around them, watching the most important game of 2015.
Let me disclose that as I write this, I plan to be at a Super Bowl party with multiple screens and lots to eat and drink. Earlier in the week, I had to check the newspaper, I know, I still get a paper, to see who was in the game. Further disclosure, I don’t follow football, oh, you already figured that out…and unless the game is really good, I’ll be socializing and casually watching the game from time to time. And yes, I do understand how the game is played.
SO, what about those people that don’t watch The Game? How are they spending what is in Southern California, a beautiful day? I used to prune the roses and take a break at half time to watch the show. I’ve heard from friends that they take their kids to amusement parks, they go skiing, they take a hike, they do their taxes, they see a popular movie, go to a restaurant where it is difficult to get reservations – in other words, they have a ritual around what they do rather than watch the Super Bowl.
I hear some judgment going in both directions about whether you watch or don’t watch. You are in an “in” group or an “out” group. We find some bonding or identity around this. For most people, it really doesn’t matter if you are in the same bonding group around the Super Bowl, but in so many areas, we judge people and get closer or further away because of these associations.
Where does this show up in your company? Do people feel like they are part of the “out” group because they don’t drink, or they are vegetarian, or they like to come in early and leave early? These judgments are killing our dialogue. Let’s start with the simple stuff and pay attention to our attitudes about who is “in” and who is “out”.
Enjoy the half time show.