Pawn Stars

“What motivates you”? This is a question I will often ask people in an interview. The answers are as diverse as the question itself given it is broad. Some people will interpret it in the physical sense, some will look at it from the perspective of who they are doing it for and some get to the core of why they are pursuing what they are pursuing. While some of that warm and fuzzy stuff answer gives me goose bumps and inspires me to help this person find the right fit job for them, I am equally concerned by the person that seems to not be bothered.

The danger of a lack of purpose should not be underestimated. You need to know your “WHY” in order to be effective. You must not only desire it, but also believe it. Simon Sinek touched on this when talking about inspired leadership; “The goal is to hire people who believe what you believe. You don’t just hire people who need a job”. Similarly, from the employee’s perspective, looking for an inspiring place to work; “The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe”.

Chess is an interesting game played by two people who each start with 16 pieces. Pawns make up 50% of the pieces and are perceived to be the weakest piece on the board (in the game). This is because they cannot move backwards, unlike other pieces in the game. What is intriguing though is unlike other pieces in the game, they can capture an opposing piece in a movement that is diagonal, in contrast to the only other way they can move (so how they move versus how they capture is not the same which is the limitation for all other pieces in the game). A pawn can also transform into any other piece in the game. It is the only piece that can transform should it fulfil its purpose of getting to the other side of the board. All other pieces can only end the game as they started.

So why, with this amazing ability, is a pawn considered the weakest piece in the game? Why are people referred to as pawns when we imply they are powerless, weak or being manipulated by someone else? What game are you playing? What is your purpose? Are you a pawn star? “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages” William Shakespeare. It’s a process, but it does not have to be mechanical.

You are in a career mode, it could just be getting started, or somewhere in the middle or you could be heading for your last innings. Has it been a good innings thus far? What are your beliefs relative to your strengths and ideas? Are you doing a job that fulfils you or merely doing something you are good at which you also happen to get a good salary for? Are you getting paid so well that you can’t even leave that job for another that you would enjoy doing more simply because it pays less and you can’t go backwards in your salary? Great move, pawn style.

I suppose the analogy of calling someone a pawn to depict weakness comes from the victim mentality. People often speak about being used in the relationship they are in (or have been in). Being human and having a tendency to want to serve (with varying degrees of serving others versus serving self), that is why people talk of being an asset to an organisation. This was intended for making the people feel important and wanted. By definition this would imply that people are owned and controlled by the organisation. Surely that is not what you want, to be owned and controlled by your employer?

The truth is that as people our salary is an expense incurred in the production of income for the organisation. There is nothing wrong with being an input cost that helps to produce income. Just ensure that you help generate more income than the expenses you draw. Play to your unique strengths as an individual in contributing to the organisation and you will move away from being a mere expense or commodity. You need to have a purpose and serve that purpose to differentiate yourself and be of value.

To have any chance of transforming from a pawn into a Queen, a Rook, a Bishop or a Knight, you need to worry less about your image risk and put your ideas forward that you think are innovative or will add value. A good idea in your head is not of any use to anyone until you start following through with it and taking action. Sometimes your ideas to make things better will meet resistance, to a point of provoking anger amongst those that like things as they are. “We have been doing it like this since you were in high school” is a common response to suggested change. Don’t take it personally or be afraid to put it out there. If you work with people who encourage innovation and embrace that making mistakes is part of learning, you will thrive (you will win some and you will lose some).

If you choose to stay with people that don’t believe what you believe, you have very little chance of influencing them and worse, they will have you not believing in yourself. Increase your circle of influence and dedicate time to thinking and experimenting if you want to grow. Put up with mediocrity or the bad apples in the team, and you will stagnate if you are lucky. Who you surround yourself with is your conscious choice, not your manager’s responsibility. You need to manage your personal brand, but that does not mean giving up your sense of self to fit in with an organisation that you are not naturally aligned with in terms of vision or purpose.

You are unique, just like everybody else. Some are rock stars. Some are also rans. Some organisations just have the Midas touch, and can’t seem to set a foot wrong. There are people and organisations that achieve things that defy the known assumptions. These people are inspired and driven by a desire that comes from purpose, rather than simply knowing what they are doing (skilled enough) or doing what they are supposed to be doing. You are where you are right now. Why did you show up? Why did you get out of bed this morning? Be that Rock Star! A pawn star can transform into anything in the game. So what do you want to be when you grow up? You are never too old to answer that question.