Not a Game of Chess
Hi,
A few years back, I had a conversation with a CEO who expressed his discomfort with the way his managers discussed their employees, likening them to pawns in a game rather than valued members of a team.
This insightful decision-maker made an important observation. Many managers are expected to work strategically, and so they fall into the trap of viewing people as pieces of a puzzle, not partners in a team.
Intentionally or not, these managers are inclined to see themselves as “puppeteers” whose main task is to control others to achieve a desired result. As a result, they tend to engage in manipulative behaviors. They will try to motivate people to act in a particular way, will withhold facts and move employees around the organization like pawns in a game of chess.
Consequently, these managers usually focus on individual performance rather than team collaboration. For instance, they may encourage competition between individuals in a team instead of focusing on improving the team’s cooperative skills.
Let me be clear, these managers are not bad people; they simply act in accordance with what they believe is expected of them. Many are not even aware of what they’re doing. They simply replicate behaviors they’ve seen in other managers. We need to ask ourselves why managers believe they should act like a puppeteer.
Natural leadership is not about exerting control but rather helping a team reach its goals. When we resort to puppeteer-like behaviors, whether at work, school or elsewhere, we undermine our chances of building collaborationship. We behave as though we have all the answers. This is a dangerous attitude. As business consultant Ken Blanchard put it, “None of us is as smart as all of us.”
In essence, the key to progress lies in creating an environment that fosters leader rotation and collective intelligence. This requires letting go of the notion that leadership is a game of strategy and control – and instead embracing a more collaborative and inclusive approach.
Until next time, stay curious!
