Lessons from Chess Legend Viswanathan Anand

Recently, I had the privilege of having a rather insightful conversation with none other than Viswanathan Anand for a Godrej & Boyce podcast. We talked about his incredible journey through the world of chess and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Over the course of our discussion, my three key takeaways were:

The importance of humility and kindness - What struck me the most during our conversation was not just Anand's remarkable chess career, but the humility and kindness he radiates. Here is a person who has scaled the heights of success, yet remains grounded and approachable. When asked about it, he very humbly attributed his success to his parents and his upbringing. But there was a deeper lesson here; Anand spoke about being conscious of the impact we have on others, and the importance of kindness and thoughtfulness. His words emphasized how every interaction, however small, leaves an imprint, positive or negative.

In our roles as leaders, we hold the power to uplift and inspire those around us. We can choose to be the driving force behind positive change, and create a workplace culture defined by empathy, respect, and consideration. All we have to do is be conscious of our words and actions, as they have the potential to shape not only our own journeys, but also the journeys of those we encounter.

The importance of learning and unlearning - We are living in an era defined by digital disruption and the constant influx of new information, driven by sophisticated technology like AI. In the world of chess as well, computer-generated moves have turned our understanding of the game upside down, demanding an unlearning of established chess theories and strategies, to make way for new moves and learnings.? Anand emphasized that forgetting bad or old information is as important as learning new, good ones.

Likewise, in today's dynamic/evolving business landscape, customer preferences change rapidly, and disruptive technologies emerge overnight. To thrive, we must unlearn old patterns and embrace a more flexible, adaptive mindset. Hence, in the pursuit of becoming a "learning organization", our quest shouldn’t solely be about learning, but also about unlearning.

The importance of moving on - In chess, one must have the ability to not only learn from past moves and games, but also the clarity to focus on the present to make the right moves in the future. The ability of not being weighed down by past mistake or past performance and moving on is what makes a great chess grandmaster.

In organisations, we need to build a similar mindset. In the face of setbacks or challenges, rather than dwelling on the past, we must focus on doing better in the future. While this is easier said than done, the merits far outweigh the comfort of adhering to status-quo. The past provides learning experiences. The future has to be created.??

Thank you Vishy for the wonderful conversation we had!

#Leadership #LifeLessons #Inspiration

*Photo courtesy: Pinterest