“I now know why the king on the chessboard can only move one space at a time."

My good friend and mentor Paul Singer said to me when he became CIO of Target.

“I thought when I got to this position, that I would be able to make sweeping changes.

But I find policy, rules, politics, culture- even my own words tie my hands.

The only way I can influence is through those around me."

Those words have rang true to me over my career. While I have been a CIO, and CTO I find that they still fit for most every leadership position in an large enterprise.

While one might feel bound by the level of the position, don’t lose site of the power that can be wielded through those around you.

Choose your rooks, bishops, knights and queen carefully, and never forget the game is won with the pawns. This is how you drive your broad sweeping changes.

(Founders of startups who have grown to enterprise level don’t often experience this. A founder led culture centers around the cult of personality.. and they often don’t have the restrictions that one finds when stepping into an enterprise public company culture- this is another post ;-) )

Original Linkedin Post: http://bit.ly/2LIKSUt