Chess/Diversity

Consider the entire team (pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queen, and king). It takes the entire team to save the king. For the purpose of our work, the king is the product/service we provide. The pawn is thought to be the weakest member of the team. However, the pawns likely start the game and have a lot of power (they can move two space upon their first move, they capture opponents diagonally, and there are more of them than any of member of the team). The pawn represents the member behind them (serves as a position of protection). Diversity is a lot like chess. It takes all members of the team to produce the desired outcome. If you devalue the pawn (the first line of defense (some time entry-level)), you can almost always assume you will lose. Each member of the chess team is necessary and has its own duties/tasks. If you assign a higher value to the next level of team members (bishops, knights, and rooks – middle managers and technicians), they will not be successful. If these members of the team do not have and value the pawns, these members become the first line of defense, in addition to their normal roles. The queen (women first, and upper level management) has the most freedom on the board. It is important to note that the queen can move in direction on the board. However, until a pawn moves, the queen relegated to her position beside the king. The king (the product/services and/or the head of the organization), the reason for the team, is limited in how far and where he can move)). The king is dependent upon all of the members of the team. 

If we applied the game of chess to all of the members of our team, we would appreciate the value each member adds to the process (regardless of rank). To save the king is considered the goal of chess if we understood that to neglect any member of the team is death for the king sooner or later. 

Diversity is very similar to chess. The least skilled employee is your pawn.  The pawn in diversity is seeking to advance and be productive. The experienced technicians and managers are your bishops, knights, and rooks.  They are managing the product/service. These members are seeking to advance the team and create the best outcome possible with the resources available to them. Upper management and third and fourth levels of support are the queen. Their goal is ensuring the members of the team have the resources they need to accomplish the mission. The product/service or leader is the king. The product/service or leader is the reason why everyone is there. Delivering the results needed to succeed is the role of the king. The power of the king is gained from all of the members of the team.  Chess/diversity are inclusive, not exclusive!