Make Better Decisions

Chess Grandmasters spend years fine tuning their ability to see moves ahead in a game - every decision, their opponent's or their own, is a glimpse into the future. The outcomes of decisions are directly tied to the effort put into the decision-making process. Breakdown the process of making a decision with activities in this section and finish up by assessing your current decision making skills.

The space in the middle of a Chessboard gives even seasoned players pause - while new players see an open, flexible space for gameplay, experienced players know that an absence of a strategy in that space is a guaranteed "Checkmate". Decision making requires tact and strategy to ensure long-term success. Learn from the decision-making models employed by business leaders, great thinkers, and fighter pilots to ensure that even quick decisions fall into a larger, strategic framework.

Chess is considered to be 100% a game of skill - meaning, only the player's actions have an effect on the game outcome. Chess Grandmasters don't owe anything to luck - they literally have the skills to pay the bills. Discover tools and practices designed to help you tailor your approach to decisions, big and small. Don't leave it to chance...

The only variables in a chess game are the decisions your opponent makes; thinking like your opponent is key to winning - but you can't plan for everything. Every decision comes withs potential unforeseen impacts or implications. Beyond process, strategy, and skill - the activities in this section highlight the importance of building context around the decisions you make. Learn how to utilize empathy in the decision-making process, employ the foursquare protocol to ensure ethically sound decisions, and make better decisions by practicing inclusiveness in your process.

Like most workplaces, chess requires you recognize the strengths and weaknesses of others - alongside your own - to develop a balanced and winning strategy. There's no way around it, better decisions are made through a balance of perspective and participation. Learn to recognize and utilize different decision-making styles, discover a few examples of how great thinkers approach decision-making, and explore the science of how learning to slow down your thoughts could lead to better decisions.

In chess, as in most games, you often learn more from losing than you do from winning. Decisions are no different; terrible ones quickly expose gaps in your approach, process, and overall strategy. Review the content in this section to learn habits to break to avoid bad decisions and how to continually fine tune your decision-making process.