I’ve always hated when people say “it’s just a game”.  It’s not.  The truth is you can say that about almost everything in life.  When you compare a heart-breaking loss of a football “game” to some of life’s biggest tragedies like cancer and car wrecks, it’s true that most of what we experience every day is pretty trivial.

Last night’s football game between the Seahawks and Packers has most of the country talking about the “injustice” of terrible officiating.  And as Packer fan, I couldn’t agree more.  But this time, the frustration and disappointment of a Packers loss isn’t just limited to a bunch of Cheeseheads who live and die for their home team.

Although last night’s football game is trivial compared to the big things in life, for football fans, it’s still a big deal.  But you know what?  At the core of the issue, it’s not about football.  Last night’s game-deciding call is about expectations and accountability.

As fans of the NFL, we have a certain expectation of what we’re going to see on the field every weekend.  And as you can imagine, so do the players and coaches.  And although it’s the fan that makes it possible for the game and the league to exist, we’re “just fans”.  But for the people on the field, that’s their livelihood.

You see, the people on the field are true professionals.  In fact, they bring the word “professional” to a whole other level.  Pro athletes and their coaches are fiercely competitive to be the world’s best at what they do.  Physically and mentally, they’re tougher than you and I can possibly ever fathom.  They push themselves to perform at a level that most of us don’t even know exist.  And in turn, they expect the people around them to do the same.  Unfortunately, the NFL’s replacement referees are unqualified to be on the same field as the professionals.

And right now, that’s the real tragedy for the players and coaches of the league.  They’ve done the hard work and made it through the countless filters that exist on the road to the NFL.  Now they’re being expected to count on amateurs.  That doesn’t work.  Ultimately, there’s no room for amateurs in a professional’s world.

And as we start our work day discussing and complaining about the officiating of the NFL’s replacement refs, I’m left wondering… Is there anything productive that we can take away from last night’s game?  I think there is.

Just as the players, coaches, and fans expect the refs to do their job at a high level, your employees count on you to do the same.  As “the boss”, you are a lot like the refs.  Your employees expect you to take control of the workplace, pay attention to what everybody is doing, and make the right calls every day.  Their livelihood depends on your leadership.

So… are you serving your people at a professional level, or are you blind to what’s really going on every day?  In other words, how well do you know each employee and the work they’re doing?

Sure, we can all be angry about the “injustice” that was done to the Packers and the game of football by a bunch of “professional imposters”.  But hey, it’s “just a game”.

Today and every day, you have the opportunity… no… you have the obligation to be a professional manager and leader.  Your team is counting on you to get it right.  And if you’re truly a professional, you should expect nothing less.