Whether you’re operating at home or abroad, if you’re dining out with clients, bosses, or prospective employers, there’s a whole world of rules associated with the “business meal” that you need to learn. Gracing your way through dining protocol tells colleagues that you’re professional, reliable, and savvy—and this just may set you apart from the pack. Sloppiness or mistakes can put you in a bad light and even cost you a deal or a job.
In the quest for concentrated expertise and efficiency, we’ve created a virtual labyrinth of knowledge sharing and developmental support for employees. There are intricate hidden passageways such as “unwritten rules” and tortuously high hedges, otherwise known as operating silos. But there is a way to cut through all the clutter—by integrating mentoring programs into the corporate operating structure.
A recent study by Catalyst, the global nonprofit organization that examines women in the workplace, reveals that the best indicator of women in c-suite positions is the number of women on a company’s board of directors. As the study also noted, Fortune 500 companies with a higher percentage of female corporate directors and corporate officers on average financially outperform their counterparts.
The game of chess is a perfect metaphor for corporate environments. Each requires strategy, patience, knowledge of intricate rules, and involves multiple players of varying power and mobility. “Corporate chess” applies the characteristics of chess to the corporate world with a view to mastering the rules, understanding the players, and playing to win.
Here’s how you can master the game of Corporate Chess.
