Leadership isn’t about reacting to the next move—it’s about thinking several moves ahead. In Chess Not Checkers, Mark Miller challenges leaders to shift from short-term, transactional thinking (“checkers”) to intentional, strategic leadership (“chess”) that builds sustainable success.
Strategic Thinking Over Reaction
Great leaders don’t just manage today’s problems—they anticipate tomorrow’s opportunities and risks.
Intentional Leadership
Every decision, conversation, and priority sends a signal. Leaders must act with purpose, not habit.
People First, Always
Long-term performance is rooted in developing people, not squeezing results.
Sustainable Success
Winning today doesn’t matter if it costs trust, culture, or credibility tomorrow.
Values Driven Leadership is about how results are achieved—not just whether they are. This book reinforces that:
Values guide strategy – Your core values shape the moves you’re willing (and unwilling) to make.
People aren’t pawns – Leaders steward talent; they don’t sacrifice it for short-term wins.
Trust compounds over time – Ethical, consistent leadership builds influence that outlasts authority.
Culture is a strategic advantage – The healthiest teams outperform over the long haul.
In other words:
👉 Values are the rules of the game. Strategy is how you play it.
Move from tactical firefighting to strategic leadership
Align decisions with values—even under pressure
Build teams that perform well and stay healthy
Think long-term in a short-term world
Great leaders don’t just make the next move—they shape the entire game.