While growing up, I was very competitive with my father when it came to games. When I was old enough to learn, my dad taught me how to play chess. I was excited about the fact that I had matured from checkers to the big leagues. I wrongly assumed, however, that chess was just the adult version of checkers and that I could figure it out quickly. Little did I know how different the two games were.

In chess, every piece moved differently than the others, and it took me a while to get used to the complex system. My dad took the time to teach me the technique and strategy needed to win. Over time I better understood the game, and I was finally able to keep up with Dad. Our games would get pretty competitive as I would always trash-talk him and try to taunt him with my self-declared fierce mind skills. Little by little I was gaining ground, and game-by-game I was getting closer to being able to put him in checkmate.

The day of my victory finally came. I will never forget it. It was glorious! Dad probably thinks he made a mistake somewhere, but really it was just me outwitting him all along. Actually, I am not sure if I earned the victory or he allowed me to win for my confidence. More than likely it was the latter. I like to think it was because of my amazing skills that overpowered him mentally that I took home the victory, but he might have a different perspective on that. However, I still claim he was no match for my mind power to this day!

I learned a very important lesson about leadership over those years of playing chess with Dad. You see, leading people is best understood when looking at the difference between checkers and chess. In checkers, every piece moves the exact same; however, in chess the pieces move according to their unique ability. Leaders that treat everyone the same, as in checkers, will put a lid on their own leadership effectiveness and a lid on the person they are leading. The leader that operates from a checkers perspective will not be able to get the most out of their team. But when a leader treats their team like chess pieces and seeks to know each person’s unique wiring and skill set, they will be able to maximize the greatest strengths within the team. Leaders have to mature from leading in their own preferred way, to leading in the way those on their team need to be lead, just like I had to mature from checkers to chess. This is a vital concept to understand when it comes to being a great leader. What works to drive one person may be totally different from what works to drive another person.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard leaders say, “This is how I lead, people need to deal with it!” Although there is a truth that employees need to partially mold to the leader’s style, the same applies to the leader. The leader has to partially adapt their style to what fits their people as well. Just like any relationship needs give and take to make it work, leaders and team members need to work together in their relationship to achieve a successful balance. This balance is all about getting the right people in the right place on the team. Great leaders develop the ability to identify the right person for the tasks at hand. They become master chess players who are able to move people to the right places.

Leaders play chess not checkers…be a Chess player as a leader!

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