Business and chess may seem like two unrelated fields, but they have more in common than one may think. Both require strategic thinking, planning, and decision-making skills. The lessons that can be learned from playing chess can be applied to business and vice versa. A business leader can make an unlimited number of moves. The goal of the game chess and business alike is to use your resources, make great decisions, and successfully outsmart your competition.
As a great chess player would, a great business leader must make plans before making any moves and think many steps ahead in the game. This way, they can manage their resources, and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Chess players and business leaders are constrained by time and must make decisions on the spot while remaining calm and focused in high-stress situations.
Sometimes sacrifices must be made by the leader or player to move forward. A sacrifice may be viewed as a loss in the present, but it can prove to gain an advantage in the future. This can be viewed in business as a form of investment in advanced technology, employee training or market research. Investments deplete current time and resources but can help realize profits in the future. Similarly, in chess, a player may sacrifice a piece in order to put their opponent at a disadvantage or to expose his materials.
In both Business and Chess, success is often the result of making the right strategic decisions, effectively managing your resources, identifying core strengths as well as making sacrifices. Those who are able to calculate their moves in a strategic manner are more likely to achieve their goals and succeed in the long run.