Evolutionary Organisations: Playing the game to continue playing.
As we explore how organisations can become more fit for the future and fit for humans, we come across a lot of concepts, models and theories (some more easy to understand than others). And every once in a while something pops up that “clicks”, that brings a new lens to see the world through and language to understand the shift in mindset that needs to happen. Our most recent finding: The concept of finite and infinite games.
James Carse introduced the concept in his 1986 book “Finite and Infinite Games”:
“A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing to play.”
The “old” management paradigm (Legacy / Orange organisations) totally speaks to a finite mindset. A game we play as if there were fixed rules and known players who play to beat those around them. Joy comes from comparison — think about this for a minute: For an organisation, perhaps the winner is the company with the biggest market share (for now). For an individual, perhaps the winner is the person with the fanciest title or most formal power. But are individuals with the fanciest titles or most formal power really the winners? And when it comes down to it, down to the day you might not be here anymore, who cares about that game anyway?!
So let’s shift our perspective to an organisation seen with an infinite mindset. A game where the rules change, where there are known and unknown players and the objective is be better today than you were yesterday. The premise is to keep the game in play.
Firstly, the conditions sound much more like real-life; much more suitable for the world that we currently describe as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.
Secondly, in the context of unleashing our human potential on the challenges that really matter, this really makes sense. To me the difference could be illustrated by a pharmaceutical company in the eyes of both mindsets. The finite game of a pharmaceutical company could be to win the biggest market share by charging to treat the symptoms of a disease. The infinite game would be to cure the disease and then move the technology and thinking on to the next disease. I know which game I’d find more meaningful to play.
Zhang Ruimin, CEO of white appliances company Haier, applies the infinite mindset in the setup of his company. Haier is a company that has been in the limelight for it’s innovative set-up, in the form of an ecosystem of more than 2000 “micro-entreprises” that enables “zero-distance” between employees and their customers. This “zero-distance” principle is one mechanism to support a larger objective of the organisation; to continuously re-invent itself as an ever-evolving ecosystem to be relevant for the world around it.
Admittedly this concept of finite and infinite games, is one that we’ll no doubt be hearing more about. Simon Sinek released a new book, just yesterday, on the topic. He writes:
“If we choose to live our lives with a finite mindset, it means we make our primary purpose to get richer or promoted faster than others. To live our lives with an infinite mindset means that we are driven to advance a Cause bigger than ourselves. We see those who share our vision as partners in the Cause and we work to build trusting relationships with them so that we may advance the common good together. We are grateful for the success we enjoy. And as we advance we work to help those around us rise. To live our lives with an infinite mindset is to live a life of service.”
Very much aligned with Laloux’s description of a Teal organisation and operating within a paradigm at a higher level of consciousness, this is a concept that “clicked” for us. It does challenge the fundamentals when it comes to what it means to be successful in business and what it means to be a “successful” human. It leads us to wonder whether our decision-making would be any different if we walked through our work day with an infinite mindset? And what challenges we would face in trying to do so…
In all honesty, we first heard about this concept under a week ago. So we are curious about your perspective and reflections. Have you found any inspiring content on the topic? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment field.
