When I hit a bad shot in golf, which I often do, it is not uncommon for me to say, “what a dumb game!” But then I remind myself that golf is less of a game and more a metaphor for life:

• Golf is more of a process and to do well you need to trust your swing and trust the process. 
• Don’t play golf to relax. Rather you need to relax to play golf.
• You can’t steer the ball.
• It’s a game of fractions. A little bit off in execution has a dramatic effect on results.
• The more you force it, the worse you seem to play.
• If you are a golfer you no doubt have many you can add to this list.

What about business and life? Are they games?

Much depends on how you define “game.”

Game is usually defined in terms of sports, amusement activities, or contests, but the Merriam-Webster definition that correlates best with the message here is: “a procedure or strategy for gaining an end.”

Simon Sinek provides thought provoking perspective in his book The Infinite Game. He comes to the conclusion that most business people do not know what game they are in [but would benefit greatly if they did] and explains that ultimately there are two games, which exist and prevail in the business world. 

The first, the Finite Game, involves known players, fixed rules, and an agreed upon [finite] objective—to win. 

To demonstrate he suggests that baseball is a finite game. There are two teams, the rules are clear, and the objective is to score more runs than the other team. A team that is outscored at the end of nine innings cannot suggest that they are actually the better team and all they need is a few additional innings to prove it. Everybody understands that is not how baseball works—the game is over if one team has more runs than the other after nine innings.

The second, the Infinite Game, involves known and unknown players, the rules are changeable, and the objective is to keep the game going. It is not about winning as much as perpetuating the game and getting incrementally better over time.

Marriage is an infinite game. It is not about spouses competing with each other, but rather working together to have a strong and sustainable relationship.

Games are stable when finite players are pitted against finite players (a contest to determine a winner and a loser) or infinite players are pitted against infinite players (where there are no winners or losers). Conflict arises, however, and the game breaks down, when the two types of games are comingled. 

So, is business a finite or infinite game? Unfortunately, since most business people are not clear about what game they are in, they are surprised when their finite mindset players do not work well with their infinite mindset players. 

Finite players do what they believe is necessary to win—to make the sale, to maximize short term profits, to negotiate the lowest cost, etc.

Infinite players on the other hand are focused on long-term and keeping the game going—customers for life, sustainable profits, win-win negotiations, getting incrementally better, etc.

While I’m sure there are finite aspects to every business, the most successful organizations seem to play by infinite principles. 

Watch Simon Sinek’s presentation of the Infinite Game in the following video and see if it doesn’t change the way you look at how you are doing business [and other aspects of life].

Great leaders are clear about what game they are in and it changes how and why they do what they do.

Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.