The Power of a Social Contract

Have you ever been to church and someone says, “see you next Sunday!” Or, maybe you go rock climbing every Tuesday and as you’re leaving your instructor yells, “you’ll be here next week, right?!”

And we’re always like, “YEAH!” And maybe after we leave we’re sitting in our car thinking, “SHOOT, I won’t actually be here next week…”

I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot lately. I play soccer every MWF and as people leave I’ll say, “see you next time?”

It feels nice to ask that question. I know this concept is simple, but there’s something profound there because asking this simple question signals that you want that person back. And, when we’re asked that question, it begins to lightly scratch our itch for belonging.

And another function of this question is it allows us to create a social contract. This doesn’t mean we’re signing dotted lines or cutting our hands for a weird Harry Potter handshake. But, we’re creating a semblance of a contract by setting expectations that we’ll see each other again in the future.

It keeps us accountable, it makes us feel wanted, and then we get to belong.

We need more social contracts because we don’t always want to show up to things. And, when you’re thinking about flaking yet you remember that you told Jennifer that you’d be there, well then you better show up.

Ask people if you’ll see them next week. And, when people ask you, sign that social contract with GLEE.