What does it mean to lead with an infinite mindset? What attitude differentiates an infinite-minded leader?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A finite-minded leader plays to defeat others. In contrast, a leader who adopts the infinite mindset plays to maintain a healthy position within a competitive field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sinek outlined five guidelines for leading with an infinite mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
A leader who sees their business as part of an infinite game will make decisions based on long-term strategies that develop long-term strength, while someone who plays a finite game will aim for short-term wins<\/a> that might weaken their organization in the long run. Consistently, businesses that succeed over many years are run by leaders with infinite mindsets<\/em>, while businesses that fail are run by leaders with finite mindsets<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinek discusses several key differences in the attitudes and beliefs of finite and infinite mindsets: <\/p>\n\n\n\n To illustrate his point about the advantages of infinite mindset, Simon Sinek<\/a> discusses the difference between how Microsoft and Apple view the world. He quotes this Microsoft versus Apple example<\/a> often and it has become widely associated<\/a> with his theories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinek relates how he attended the corporate conferences of both Microsoft and Apple. At the Microsoft conference, the majority of the speakers talked about how they could beat Apple, their primary competitor. By contrast, at Apple\u2019s conference, all the speakers talked about how they could continually improve their customers’ experiences through innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of its focus on Apple instead of on its own vision, Microsoft based its decisions reactively on Apple\u2019s decisions, and it was always a step behind Apple. When Apple released the iPod, Microsoft responded with the Zune, which wasn\u2019t able to capture the public\u2019s attention, and later, when Apple released the iPhone, then-CEO Steve Ballmer (who replaced the more infinite-minded Bill Gates in 2000) dismissed it as not worth the effort to replicate, deciding that the cell phone market was already spoken for. His laser focus on market share and immediate sales potential blinded him to the seismic shift that was about to happen to the cell phone market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinek notes that the original strategy and vision of Microsoft, under Gates, had an infinite focus: \u201cTo empower every person and every organization to achieve more.\u201d He suggests that this was largely responsible for the company\u2019s success, and had Ballmer adhered to this vision when he took over as CEO, he might have been more effectively forward-thinking, rather than reactionary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinek outlines these five guidelines to help you develop an infinite mindset and build a strong, resilient company:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinek notes it\u2019s important to adopt all five<\/em> of these guidelines in order to achieve the full potential of the fully infinite mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Simon Sinek, an infinite mindset begins with a Just Cause<\/em>. A Just Cause is a big-picture vision that provides a framework for your corporate strategies. <\/strong>It provides a context for all the decisions you\u2019ll make. It inspires people to work hard and make sacrifices because they believe in the cause. A Just Cause has five elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\nCase Study: Microsoft and Apple<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Lead With an Infinite Mindset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1) Advance a Just Cause<\/h4>\n\n\n\n