Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game

OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS

ASSESS
OUR
 The purpose of this presentation is to review 5 elements, SUCCESS
according to Simon Sinek, that help an organization succeed
REVIEWING SIMON
By:
Emily Spencer in today’s market, and to provide time for reflection about our
• Wh a t ma k es
school’s current success and leadership related to the 5
SINEK’S, “THE INFINITE Audience: K-2
Division elements.
an
i n d ep en d en t
sch ool
GAME” 3.25.19
 CSTP 6: Developing as a Professional Educator (All sub -
su ccessf u l ?

• Ta k e some
strands) ti me to
 TLMS Domain 3: Promoting Professional Learning for th i n k a n d / or
record y ou r
Continuous Improvement th ou gh ts.
 NBPTS Proposition 4: Teachers Think Systematically About
Their Practice and Learn From Experience.

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WHAT IS AN INFINITE GAME? PLAYING THE INFINITE GAME

 There are 5 1) Just

components to play an Cause
infinite game in the
Here’s workplace.
WHY PLAY AN INFINITE why. You
can’t “win  All elements must go
5) Open
Playbook
2)
Courageous
Leadership

Finite Game
- There is a winner and a
Infinite Game
-There are no winners or
GAME? education. hand in hand to
achieve goals.
loser. losers.
-Rules are clear and known to -Rules often don’t exist or are
both sides. fluid.  Do any of these 3)
-Boundaries and teams are -Opponents and games elements surprise you? 4) Worthy
Adversary
Vulnerable
well defined. change. Team
-GOAL: to win and beat the -GOAL: to outlast the current
opponent. competition

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game

JUST CAUSE ASK YOURSELF… COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP

 It is the “why” for what you do.

What is YOUR just  Promotes the cause  Which picture
 It is what gets you out of bed in the morning. above everything displays courageous
 It is the passion that compels you. cause? else leadership?
 It encompasses the endurance and perseverance it takes to
achieve something great. Does it align with  Withstands
our school’s “why?”? pressures
 Our just cause is our mission statement.  Requires people to
How is it the same? band together
How is it different?  Accepts that fear is
We grow a part of leading
difference  Sees teachers and
all employees as
makers. leaders

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VULNERABLE TEAM

LET’S LIST!  1) Everyone is a leader.

 People are all a part of the mission. • Being
• Th i n k of a
good l ea d er vulnerable
y ou ’v e h a d is the
i n y ou r l i f e. 2) Safe Culture strength
• Wh a t  People take risks.
q u a l i ti es
needed to
d i d / d o th ey  People can act themselves. stay true to
p ossess?  Admit mistakes or when they don’t know something. the just
• Use th e cause.
b a ck of y ou r  Take risks without fear of retribution.
n ote p a p er
to record
y ou r 3) Established Trust
th ou gh ts.
 Positive relationships that rely on one another.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite Game

NOW LET’S REFLECT…ARE WE PLAYING

WORTHY ADVERSARY OPEN PLAYBOOK
THE INFINITE GAME?
 Viewing competitors as
worthy gives us a healthy Elements Effects
competitive mindset. 1. Just Cause  Which of the five
2. Courageous Leadership
 Competitors should be 3. Vulnerable Team elements do you think
acknowledged and • Businesses have variable • This allows for the “hows” and 4. Worthy Adversary
strategies vs. fixed strategies. “whats” of the Golden Circle to 5. Open Playbook we are doing the best?
treated with respect. Which one needs the
change as needed.
 Our ultimate goal should most improvement?
be to compete against • Plan intentional, flexible strategies • A culture is built that can adapt to
ourselves and measure that can change to adjust to change. When/if leadership  Moving forward…
our success against our cause. current leadership leaves, the  Create a list of goals
just cause. culture still lives on. related to the 5 elements
 Adversaries push us to • Have transparent values for • Creates the lasting mindset that could help our school
have a better product or everyone to know that make the needed to bring everyone’s be more aligned with
the best version of just cause happen. leadership together for the playing the infinite game.
ourselves. common purpose.

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