Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite

Game

-Briefly talk about attending the NAIS Conference (March, 2019), the importance of
this message for our school, and provide background information about Simon Sinek.

Background information about Simon Sinek…

1) Known as a leadership “guru”.
2) Author, motivational speaker, TED talks, and business consultant.
3) Founder of SinekPartners.
4) Focuses on teaching people how to inspire others.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Review purpose and overview of CSTP 6 elements for audience.

1) Reflect on teaching practice to support student learning

2) Establishing professional goals
3) Collaborating with colleagues and professional community
4) Work with families to support student learning
5) Engage with local community
6) Manage professional responsibilities
7) Demonstrate professionalism with responsibility, integrity, and ethical conduct.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Educational hook (understanding)

Before diving into the material, allow time for audience to reflect on the question.
They can use the handout provided for the presentation to jot down some ideas.
Then have some people share out.

Some possible answers may be…leadership, resources, positive relationships, money,

trained and credentialed teachers, supportive community, professional development,
strong programs, etc. Tell the audience that we will circle back to their responses at
another point in the presentation.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Dual Coding & Smart Art Organizer

Explain the differences between what Sinek defines as a finite game versus an infinite
game. Most games we play are finite. Allow the audience to brainstorm any other
examples besides “life” since you can’t “win” life, of infinite games.

Emphasize that a successful organization must adopt the mindset of playing an

infinite game.

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Dual Coding

Play the short video of Simon Sinek explaining about why we have to play an infinite
game in the independent school market.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Smart Art Graphic Organizer

Explain each of the 5 elements briefly. Circle back to the question the audience
answered on slide 3 about what makes a school successful and make connections if
any of these elements were answered. Allow a couple of minutes for audience to fill
in the missing elements on their table organizer in their guided notes.

Engage in a brief discussion about whether or not any of these elements listed above
were a surprise.

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Dual Coding

Be sure to emphasis that this is the most important part of playing the infinite game.
Without having a reason, a purpose, motive, etc. for doing what you do, eventually an
organization will tire out and not be able to compete with changes over time.

Point out that the image chosen next to the mission statement is very symbolic. In
order for an organization to be successful, they have to push past many factors in
order to stay “in the infinite game”. It’s not always easy terrain when fighting for
something you believe in.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Progress monitoring questions

Have audience think-pair-share with people around them for a minute. Then call
them back together to discuss the image known as the “golden circle”. The just cause
is our why at the center of everything that we do. Then once that is known we move
forward into the hows and whats of our school processes.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Progress monitoring question and dual coding.

After reviewing the information and asking the progress monitoring question, ask
audience what their own personal experience has been with leadership. If they relate
more to the first image or the second from their own backgrounds.

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Progress monitoring question & dual coding

This is a time of reflection for the audience to think about someone in their life that
has been a good leader and what qualities made them a good leader. After a minute,
ask if anyone would like to share and make connections across peoples’

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Ask audience how they feel when they hear the word vulnerable. Some answers
could possibly be nervous, scared, annoyed, unsure, etc. Vulnerability doesn’t have
the greatest reputation in our society for being a positive thing, but in business, it is
essential for success.

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Dual Coding

Brene Brown is a best selling author that studies shame and human connection for a
living. After all of her years of research, vulnerability has proven to be the most
necessary thing for us as humans to have to live meaningful, connected lives. It
allows us to work

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Dual Coding

When we think of our highly competitive independent school market, we should be

viewing other schools as allies and what we can learn from them. Have audience
think about our current state of the school and if they think we are competing against
ourselves or the other schools.

End slide with a quote by Simon Sinek, “We last longer if we compete against
ourselves for the good of others instead of competing against others for the good of
ourselves.” Also, explain how the image represents how exhausting it can be when
we are just looking at our opponent instead of ourselves.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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The biggest take away from this chart is that there are flexible plans in place to adapt
to changes, but that the leader helps build a culture so strong that if they were to
leave, the values and core of the institution would continue on.

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Reviewing Simon Sinek's The Infinite
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Culminating Question and Ending Activity

Review the 5 elements of playing the infinite game. End the presentation by posing a
culminating question of if we are truly playing the infinite game. Allow reflection time
and then the audience may finish by creating a list of goal that could help our school
become more aligned with the infinite game mentality. Review their responses for
data.

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