Wimbledon fever is unavoidable in my corner of London due to it’s proximity to the All England Lawn Tennis Club and it’s got me thinking…What game were you playing in the last meeting you had? 🎮

Before you suppress the trauma of having to play warm up games in training sessions with your colleagues, relax – I mean something different.

We’ve all been to a meeting where the game is zero sum, loudest speaker takes all. It’s soul destroying when the focus of most people in the room is to prove they are better than others. 😧

The author, Dr James Carse called these “finite games” in his book “Finite and Infinite Games”.

Finite games are the ones we see so regularly in toxic meetings. ☢️
There the focus is on winning above all, and it creates an atomised, I win, you lose self seeking culture with low trust, low teamwork and, as a result, low creativity. 👩🏻‍🎨

And if you find these kinds of meetings a little tiresome, you’ll be wanting to open up into the world of what Carse calls “infinite games”.

He defines these as having no winner – simply an ongoing effort to improve the game.

“Once we are born, we are players. The only choice we get is if we want to play with a finite or infinite mindset.” Simon Sinsek

They allow the players to embrace unexpected challenges as a spur to growth, because they aren’t in competition with each other. 🤼

Players pull together to build something of quality that outlasts them. They create a trusting, cooperative and creative culture. 🛠️

Creating an infinite game culture, I truly believe can start with you.

Why? We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are in the moment. Because when we show up in a competitive I win, you lose mindset, others sense it and become guarded right back. ⚔️

When you walk in ready for a collaborative infinite game looking to contribute to a common purpose, you show up grounded, calm and your presence calms the room. You build a different kind of trust and connection. 🤝

Go into meetings curious about what game you’re playing. 🤨

And notice what happens when you drop the competition and step into contribution.

Have fun trying this out!

Speak soon,
Caroline. x