Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that the Super Bowl was played last night. While there was the usual hype, this year’s event seemed to be on steroids given the 50th anniversary and the match up between the seasoned, 39-year-old Peyton Manning and the younger Cam Newton whose team had the best record this season.
The level of sports fandom runs the gamut from mildly interested to fanatical. As sports fans, how do our behaviors show up in our organizations? We see them in our rituals, language, and camaraderie.
Sports fans are an enthusiastic group. First and foremost, they identify with their team. This connection creates a community that is almost tribal. Some wear team colors and jerseys, sing songs, come together for tailgates and have many other rituals. They like to have fun. In our organizations, we also create a community and show pride. We incorporate traditions and proudly wear pins and clothing that have our company logo. Some of our organizations have tunes and jingles with which we associate.
We use sports metaphors frequently. “We’re in the red zone,” “Punt it,” “Let’s huddle up.” Some offices even have huddle rooms or managers have a weekly huddle with their team.
In sports, when our team wins we refer to them as “we.” When our team loses, we refer to them as they. This pronoun usage is interesting because we create distance and don’t want to associate with losing.
How often do we place blame on “them” in our organizations when the project doesn’t turn out as we thought or we don’t win the contract?
As fans, we create camaraderie around a common goal: winning. Regardless of our background or role in life, we can unite behind a similar interest. In our organizations, when there is a clear and common vision we can bring different departments together. The key for leaders is to identify and articulate the uniting purpose and goals. The camaraderie and spirit will follow.
Fan behavior appears whether you’re at a stadium, in your den in front of the TV or in your office. Being enthusiastic, having fun and creating camaraderie will help you build a winning team.