Leading a meeting and chess are strategically similar

Would you like to lead a meeting as strategically as Beth Harmon plays chess?

Beth Harmon skillfully shows us that chess can be ‘almost sexy’. Mind you, those clothes, with that haircut, and Beth’s unique looks sure helped. Men and women alike adored her. Imagine if these strategies were emulated when you lead a meeting.

Is it even possible that ‘leading a meeting’ can be ‘almost sexy’ too? Well, yes it is, because I’ve witnessed it, and it’s mesmerising. It left me thinking…. “How did he do that?”

It’s not just the physical attributes we see in a person, it’s their presence that gets noticed the most. A confident speaker, chairperson, or even chess player has a captivating presence. A confidence that oozes from all pores of their being. It doesn’t matter if you’re male, female, or anything in between, your confidence comes from within. And the confidence comes with the knowledge of the moves allowed whilst adhering to the rules.

Most times people who have a presence have practised and practised their craft over and over again. Remember this scene from The Queen’s Gambit?

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Scene from Episode #3 — “Doubled Pawns”

Alma (mum) and Beth are in the hotel room. Alma is watching TV while Beth studies the chessboard

Alma — “What are you doing?”

Beth — “Looking for weaknesses in my play.”

Alma — “….and?”

Beth — “They’re aren’t any.”

Alma — “Good girl.”

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If you knew as much about chairing a meeting as Beth Harmon does about chess, then your meetings would probably be ‘almost sexy’ too.

Just as a chess game has a rhythm and a pace, so do meetings. The leader sets the rhythm. Everyone else in the meeting takes their timing and rhythm from the leader. The leader is strategic, saying the right things, at the right time, in the right way.

The team is important and they all contribute to the meeting in different ways. Some speak, some don’t, and some may need some encouragement. The leader is like…