Campus Dining Today - NACUFS 2023 - 30

Adopt an
'Infinite'
mindset
to spur innovation, resilience
NACUFS 2023
KeYNOTe
SPeAKer:
Matt Dunsmoor
instructor, The Optimism Company from Simon Sinek
In life or at work, it is disorienting when
the rules of the game we thought we
were playing unexpectedly change-for
instance, there may be a pandemic, a
national workforce shortage, supply
chain disruptions, or all of the above.
Knowing whether we are playing an " infinite
game " or a " finite game " can make all the
difference for organizations and individuals
seeking to overcome challenges and lead,
according to Matt Dunsmoor in his opening
keynote, " The Infinite Game, " on July 20 at the
NACUFS 2023 National Conference in Baltimore,
Maryland. The presentation was based on the
bestselling book of the same title, written by The
Optimism Company founder Simon Sinek.
" You have seen a ton of change in your
industry, and you've seen a ton of turnover in
your organizations, " Dunsmoor noted. " Your
organization has changed, your industry has
changed, your people have changed over time,
so how can you say you've won or lost? Because
there have been a ton of those finite games along
the way, but you're still playing the same infinite
game. "
According to Sinek's book, with finite games, like
football or chess, the players are known, the rules are
fixed, and the endpoint is clear. The winners and losers
are easily identified. However, with infinite games, like
business, politics, or life itself, the players come and
go, the rules are changeable, and there is no defined
endpoint.
In his presentation, Dunsmoor explained that
regardless of the organization, success in the context
of an infinite game is rooted in strategies that promote
purpose, a long-term outlook, and human-centered
values. These strategies also facilitate talent attraction
and retention.
" As an organization, you have the opportunity to
benefit by way of the culture that you build, " he
said. " That means making sure you're focused on
the people instead of just getting the work done.
Making sure that people have a good experience and
that they're taken care of-that starts with infiniteminded
leadership, because it moves away from taskorientation
and toward purpose-orientation. It moves
toward long-termism instead of short-termism. "
There are five main principles within this philosophy
that promote an infinite mindset and lead to resiliency
in the long-term, Dunsmoor said.
The first is " Advancing a Just Cause, " or establishing
a purpose and a vision of the world that the
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CAMPUS DINING TODAY | KeYNOTe SPeAKer: ADOPT AN 'INFINITe' MINDSeT
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