A chessboard has 32 pieces. Different roles. Different moves. Every one of them matters. That’s the workplace too. Not by title. By how people move. At some point, someone gave you a role, a desk, and a list of things to do. And you did them. Maybe even brilliantly.
But were you moving with intention, or just moving because you were told to?
Every workplace is a chessboard. Whether we see it or not, we've each been assigned a piece. The ones who truly grow are the ones who first recognize which piece they are, then consciously decide to become something more.
Let's take a look at the board.
♟ The Pawn — "Just point me in the right direction."
One step at a time. Steady. Dependable. They do the job and go home. Nothing wrong with that—until another year passes and they’re still on the same square.
We've all been this person at some point. Some of us are still here and haven't admitted it yet. The pawn isn't limited by ability, it's limited by the story it keeps telling itself.
♞ The Knight — "I'll find a way, even if it looks weird."
Moves in an L-shape. Jumps obstacles. Finds solutions nobody else saw. Knights say, “What if we tried something completely different?” and make people rethink the board.
Often misunderstood. Rarely appreciated in the moment. Almost always vindicated later.
♝ The Bishop — "I'm the best at what I do. Full stop."
Deep expertise. Sharp focus. Bishops are specialists the people you call when things get technical. Brilliant in the right moment. Exposed when the game changes.
The Bishop's quiet fear: "What happens if my skill stops being relevant?" It's worth asking before the board forces you to.
♜ The Rook — "If it isn't built properly, it'll fall apart."
Straight lines. Full authority. No drama. Rooks make organizations function—the operators, the builders, the people who turn ideas into reality.
When the Rook is absent, everyone suddenly realizes how much they were doing.
♛ The Queen — "Tell me the problem. I'll figure out the rest."
Any direction. Any distance. Queens combine vision with execution. They’re powerful not because of title, but because they’ve become versatile.
Here's the thing about Queens: every single one of them was once a Pawn who refused to stop moving forward.
The most dangerous place to be on a chessboard is comfortable in your starting square
The hardest part isn't identifying which piece you are. It's being honest about it. Most of us already know. We know when we’re playing safe, moving on autopilot, or staying the same piece for too long. Chess doesn't reward waiting. Neither does a career.
The pawn that keeps moving forward eventually reaches the other side of the board. And in chess, that pawn can become anything. That rule applies to careers too.
You are not the piece you started as
You are not even the piece you are today
You are the sum of the moves you make next
Which piece are you right now and which one are you becoming?
