GM Elshan Moradiabadi - 2022 US Championship

Photo courtesy of the St. Louis Chess Club.

For Organizations & Businesses

Thinking “Outside the Board”

Chess is a fascinating and challenging game that can provide many benefits for individuals and organizations. Here are some ways that chess can be presented to organizations and businesses:

Highlight the cognitive benefits: Chess has been shown to improve cognitive skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making. It can also improve memory, concentration, and creativity. Presenting these benefits to organizations and businesses can make it clear that learning and playing chess can provide concrete advantages for employees.

Emphasize the teamwork and social benefits: Chess is often thought of as an individual activity, but it can also be a social and collaborative experience. Organizing chess tournaments or team-building events can help employees to bond and develop teamwork skills. This can be particularly useful for organizations that want to build a sense of community among their employees.

Provide training and resources: Offering training and resources to employees who are interested in learning chess can be an effective way to promote the game. This could include providing access to online tutorials or videos, hosting workshops or classes, or even hiring a professional chess coach to work with interested employees.

Use chess as a metaphor for business: Chess can be a powerful metaphor for business, with its focus on strategy, planning, and execution. Using chess to illustrate business concepts can help employees to better understand and apply these principles in their work.

Promote mental wellness: Chess can be a fun and engaging way to promote mental wellness in the workplace. It can provide a break from the stress of work, promote relaxation, and even help to reduce anxiety and depression.

Fundraising events: Chess tournaments can be an opportunity for fundraising events for humanitarian activities, such as disaster relief, poverty reduction, or education initiatives.

Cross-cultural exchange: Chess can be used for cross-cultural exchange, bringing together individuals from different backgrounds and promoting understanding and appreciation of other cultures.

By presenting chess to organizations and businesses in a way that highlights its benefits and relevance to their needs, it is possible to promote the game and increase its popularity in the workplace.