REVIEWING SIMON

By:
Emily Spencer

SINEK’S, “THE INFINITE Audience: K -2

Division

GAME” 3.25.19

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 OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS

 The purpose of this presentation is to review 5 elements,

according to Simon Sinek , that help an organization succeed
in today’s market, and to provide time for reflection about our
school’s current success and leadership related to the 5
elements.

 CSTP 6: Developing as a Professional Educator (All sub -

strands)
 TLMS Domain 3: Promoting Professional Learning for
Continuous Improvement
 NBPTS Proposition 4: Teachers Think Systematically About
Their Practice and Learn From Experience.

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 ASSESS
OUR
SUCCESS

• W h a t m a ke s
an
independent
school
s u c c e s s f ul ?

• Ta ke s o m e
t i m e to
think and/or
r e c o r d yo u r
thoughts.

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WHAT IS AN INFINITE GAME?

Finite Game Infinite Game

- There is a winner and a -There are no winners or
loser. losers.
-Rules are clear and known to -Rules often don’t exist or are
both sides. fluid.
-Boundaries and teams are -Opponents and games
well defined. change.
-GOAL: to win and beat the -GOAL: to outlast the current
opponent. competition

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 Here’s
WHY PLAY AN INFINITE why. You
can’t “win
GAME? education.

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 PLAYING THE INFINITE GAME

 There are 5 1) Just

components to play an Cause
infinite game in the
workplace.
2)
5) Open
Courageous
Playbook
 All elements must go Leadership
hand in hand to
achieve goals.

 Do any of these 3)
elements surprise you? 4) Worthy
Adversary
Vulnerable
Team

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 JUST CAUSE

 It is the “why” for what you do.

 It is what gets you out of bed in the morning.
 It is the passion that compels you.
 It encompasses the endurance and perseverance it takes to
achieve something great.

 Our just cause is our mission statement.

We grow
difference
makers.
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 ASK YOURSELF…

What is YOUR just

cause?
Does it align with
our school’s “why?”?
How is it the same?
How is it different?

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 COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP

 Promotes the cause  Which picture

above everything displays courageous
else leadership?
 Withstands
pressures
 Requires people to
band together
 Accepts that fear is
a part of leading
 Sees teachers and
all employees as
leaders

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 LET’S LIST!

• Think of a
good leader
yo u ’v e h a d
i n yo u r l i fe .
• What
qualities
d i d / d o t h ey
possess?
• Use the
b a c k o f yo ur
n o te p a p e r
to r e c o r d
yo u r
thoughts.

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 VULNERABLE TEAM

 1) Everyone is a leader.
 People are all a part of the mission.

2) Safe Culture
 People take risks.
 People can act themselves.
 Admit mistakes or when they don’t know something.
 Take risks without fear of retribution.

3) Established Trust
 Positive relationships that rely on one another.

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 • Being
vulnerable
is the
strength
needed to
stay true to
the just
cause.

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 WORTHY ADVERSARY

 Viewing competitors as
worthy gives us a healthy
competitive mindset.
 Competitors should be
acknowledged and
treated with respect.
 Our ultimate goal should
be to compete against
ourselves and measure
our success against our
just cause.
 Adversaries push us to
have a better product or
the best version of
ourselves.

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 OPEN PLAYBOOK
Elements
• Businesses have variable
strategies vs. fixed strategies.
• Plan intentional, flexible strategies
that can change to adjust to
cause.
• Have transparent values for
everyone to know that make the
just cause happen.
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Effects
• This allows for the “hows” and
“whats” of the Golden Circle to
change as needed.
• A culture is built that can adapt to
change. When/if leadership
current leadership leaves, the
culture still lives on.
• Creates the lasting mindset
needed to bring everyone’s
leadership together for the
common purpose.
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NOW LET’S REFLECT…ARE WE PLAYING
THE INFINITE GAME?

1. Just Cause  Which of the five

2. Courageous Leadership
3. Vulnerable Team elements do you think
4. Worthy Adversary
5. Open Playbook we are doing the best?
Which one needs the
most improvement?
 Moving forward…
 Create a list of goals
related to the 5 elements
that could help our school
be more aligned with
playing the infinite game.

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