Vasudevan Ramaswami
Partner, Verts Management Consulting LLP
Chess is a game often associated with strategic thinking and planning, coupled with tactical interventions to opponent moves and most importantly a reflection of the choices one makes at different points of time to stay ahead in the game.
It could well be associated with the kind of choices and plans one makes in life generally but is quite similar to the competitive business world where one has to carefully plan and execute the following
Business Strategy and Corporate goal
Organization Structure and Team
Building Capabilities to execute the strategy
Tactical interventions and Change management
Management of milestones and success metrics
Success transfers to ensure learnings are transferred to the next project or game.
As a keen chess player, I have also pondered on how this can teach us the skills of patience to do the right move, adaptability to sudden changes, course correction, out of the box thinking and the concept of agility which is so important in today’s fast changing market environment.
I have often seen how we start a game of chess with a certain plan in mind but based on the opponent’s interventions, have to quickly evaluate and execute alternate strategies/ moves.
Chess intrinsically comes with well defined roles and responsibilities of the pieces starting with the King and Queen and of course the bishop, rook and knight but often one underestimates the power of the frontline pawns who play a significant role in the game opening as well in tricky situations where they could be a game changer either by their ability to support a strong offence or their ability to protect through a strong defensive action.
It would not be wrong to draw this analogy to the importance of a trained frontline team in the corporate world who execute the actions on the ground based on a well thought through business strategy.
Chess also teaches the power of sacrifice to attain larger goals which could mean letting go of something to achieve an even more powerful outcome.
In a well-matched game, which resonates with a healthy market landscape where market players and regulators enable a level playing performance to satisfy customer needs, you not only end up thinking many moves ahead but are constantly challenging yourself on the planes of Innovation, Execution and Consolidation.
Successful and sustainable businesses have to focus on getting their business strategy, structure, talent and capabilities right and must be willing to adapt/course correct to market changes in an agile manner.
Please do reach us at partners@vertsconsulting.com to set up a conversation with us. We do look forward to the same.
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