In conversation with an executive team about their cohesive approach to solving a complex problem, one of the members of the team suggested something really important – playing chess. She mentioned she had played throughout her childhood, and that she learned about the value of looking at the board after the move, and before she made the play. The team immediately bought in, and we began exploring how the organization would be impacted by the direction one director wanted, then another, then another. Ultimately the team saw their board was significantly impacted by each of them moving their piece without consideration of the whole.
Is your leadership team playing chess? Checking what your board looks like when each of you moves your piece independently of the others? The visual reference is useful when you want alignment, consider how you can bring something memorable to the discussion to help everyone see the impact.
About Judy Hissong
Judy Hissong is the President of Nesso Strategies. A former law firm Chief Operating Officer, she helps firms become more profitable by developing leaders. Her mission is “world domination for Good.” By creating actionable, lightbulb moments that leaders want to share and spread, she intends to improve the world one person at a time.
