Are You Playing the Great Game of Business? with Sarah Olivieri[Episode 403]

In this solo episode of Inspired Nonprofit Leadership, Sarah Olivieri shares key lessons from the influential book The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack—and why its principles apply just as powerfully to nonprofits as they do to for-profit companies.

At its core, the idea behind the “great game” is simple: organizations perform better when everyone is engaged in the work of improving the business. Not just leadership. Not just managers. Everyone.

Too often, only a handful of people in an organization are expected to think strategically and make decisions, while the rest of the team is tasked with executing instructions. But when only a few people are using their brains to solve problems and make improvements, the organization is leaving enormous potential untapped.

Sarah explores how leaders can begin unlocking the intelligence of their entire team by creating systems that encourage participation, collaboration, and shared responsibility for results.

She also highlights two powerful principles from the book:

First, the power of gamification. When people feel like they are playing a game they can win together—whether that means reaching fundraising goals, improving efficiency, or increasing impact—they become more engaged and invested in the outcome.

Second, the importance of financial transparency and literacy. When people understand the numbers that drive an organization—cash flow, revenue, expenses, and impact—they are able to make better decisions and contribute more meaningfully to the mission.

This approach ultimately leads toward what’s known as open-book management, where financial information is shared widely so teams can see how their work contributes to the organization’s success.

The result?
Stronger collaboration.
Better decisions.
And a team that truly feels ownership over the mission.

If you want a smarter, more engaged team, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how you involve your people in the work of running the organization.

This episode is especially helpful for:

• Executive directors leading growing teams

• Nonprofit leaders who want stronger engagement from staff

• Organizations working to build a high-performance culture

• Leaders who want their teams thinking like owners