We aim to learn from a mistake because we want to change how we operate and prevent making that mistake in the future.
Committing to learning is thus implicitly committing to the infinite game.
There is no winning, losing, or feeling stupid involved.
There’s only learning to be gained – in this moment and the next.
I think we’re all wired to learn. It’s evolutionary. At least not subconsciously, we don’t stop learning—people and organizations who choose not to know to find their growth atrophy pretty quickly.
My years of studying leadership and organizational behaviour have led me to one profound conclusion — the best leaders and organizations committed to learning, for now, the future, and forever.
And the ones who commit to the learning also commit to the infinite game as they work towards defining their “just cause.” They’re constantly working towards finding meaning in the work that they do.
As Simon Sinek says, a just cause must be for something inclusive, service-oriented, resilient, and romantic. When the focus is on the end-game or even the long game, one can’t think in those lines.
The game never stops. Nor does learning.
H/T to Rohan from ALearningADay.com for sparking this idea.