As humans, we love to play games. From childhood board games to adult sports, games give us a sense of competition and accomplishment. However, not all games are created equal. While some games have a clear end goal, others, such as religion, politics, and life itself, are infinite games. In the world of business, playing an infinite game means focusing on the long-term, rather than the short-term gains.
At its core, playing an infinite game means knowing your competitors and choosing how to keep score. The scorecard is different for everyone and can include growth, market share, customer satisfaction, and more. While you may be ahead or behind your indicated markers, the game never truly ends – you keep playing.
To play the infinite game successfully, there are five key components to consider:
- Just cause: This is the ‘why’ (or mission statement) of the business, the “where we are headed” statement that defines the purpose of the organization.
- Trusted teams: Disruptors are inevitable, so having a team that can lean into each other and make mistakes safelyl is crucial.
- Worthy rivals: External competition is important, but also competing with who you were yesterday is equally crucial.
- Existential flexibility: Preparing for the unexpected, such as an extreme pivot during a global crisis, is essential to continue pursuing your just cause.
- Courage to lead: Courage is not just living in our hearts, but often pulled from external sources. To be a courageous leader, you must stand for more than money, advance a purpose, protect people, and generate profit.
The courage needed to be brave in our work lives is different than in personal relationships. Speaking truth to power or taking a risky hike may be challenging, but it is essential to grow as a leader.
Every risky decision has consequence. We may fear loosing a friend after a hard conversation, for example. Human brains make up a story about the consequence of the risk, such as ‘I will never have a friend again.’ But, there can also be a positive outcome, such as the hard conversation strengthening a friendship. It’s important to remember that the middle step, the narrative our brain makes of the pieces, isn’t real, but it is our narrative to project or disregard. Our brains have been programmed to focus on the middle, but to succeed in the infinite game, we must focus on the long-term goals.
As leaders, we have a responsibility to protect our people, stand up for what’s right, and create a culture of courage. Protecting people goes beyond just paying them a salary, it’s about caring for them on a personal level and ensuring their safety and well-being.
To play the infinite game, we must embrace the philosophy of the Infinite Minded Leader by Simon Sinek and the Optimism Company. What brave thing can you do this week to advance your just cause and make a positive impact on the world? Remember, the game is never truly over, so let’s play for the long-term and create a better tomorrow.