Although I never get to play very much anymore, I used to love playing chess. My brother was the best player at his high school.
I've taught a few people how to play. It is complicated at first, to learn the ways each piece moves, and then to figure out how each one strategically plays into the game. From the beginning, you have to feel out your opponent, and figure out ways to set up your pieces, using the unique ways each one moves, to set up a defense and hopefully mount a good offense.
It is important to not forget the least of the pieces, the pawns. I have said before, and will say it again. The pawns are what win the game. If you try to get too aggressive with your queen, bishops, knights, and rooks, you are going to loose. The piece that many people don't pay enough attention to are the ones that can win and loose the game if they are placed in the right spot. Given, they can only move straight, one spot on all moves except the first, and can only attack diagonally. However, when positioned correctly, these pieces can slip through a defense and put your opponents in check.
So my point in this is that as leaders, is that life is like a game of chess. It is important when leading a group to understand the talents that are available and use it in an appropriate manner. But at the same time, just because a pawn is so severely limited in it's moving abilities, never underestimate it because of it. They are what win and lose the game. Maybe you or someone you know has a small talent that many would regard as useless in life. However, when employed properly, it can open up the door to success.
