Everybody has their own strategy for business management, whether that’s getting the most out of staff members, growing the company, making the right decisions or setting the right objectives.
Much is learned from experience and mistakes made, while others take their approach from management courses or mentoring from those around them. But could another source of inspiration for bosses and business leaders be in the game of poker?
Getting started
The game of poker challenges players at every psychological level, from decision-making to risk-taking, including short and long-term strategies. And on that level, when reading this article at https://medium.com, it’s perhaps unsurprising that many CEOs have named the popular casino game as an inspiration.
But what if you’re yet to play the game? Sites like https://bonusfinder.com/betting enable you to browse some of the best casino websites, and take advantage of offers to new players. Here, you can experience not only the world of poker in online casinos but also betting on sportsbooks, to really round out your experience with gambling. If you’re yet to play the game, there’s probably no better time to learn, especially if you have big business ambitions.
Competition and risk
One of the big challenges faced by business leaders is the threat of competition. The stakes are high, and the rivalries are real — not too far removed from the action around a poker table, where players often bluff their way to the top.
Another major stress that comes with running a company is the management of risk and many companies take risks that are too significant, too early into their existence. Learning how to manage risk is key to ensuring a business’s steady growth during its infancy.
And managing risk is a key part of poker too. Players must raise the stakes based on the hand they have, or the hand their opponents think they have, and the best players know when to fold and when to go all in. It’s a skill valuable to any business owner.
Calculating and planning
Poker also trains players to be constantly calculating the odds of a certain card being revealed. The best players can make snap decisions about the size of the risk measured against the size of the reward and it’s important that business owners are able to do the same.
It’s also true that business owners are often forced to manage an extremely tight cash flow which, as https://alllaw.com/ points out, makes the risk of bankruptcy a worryingly realistic prospect for many. And there are equally lean moments in games of poker.
Players with the chips stacked high can quickly see their pots vanish, while others left short following a bad hand can quickly recoup their losses with the right strategy. Those with little left in the pot are also able to adapt their strategies to ensure they keep their heads above water – behavior as familiar in the boardroom as it round the poker table.
Think fast
And while the game of poker often rewards strategy and a consistent approach, it often equally requires a level of pragmatism. Players must be able to think on their feet and change their approach as quickly as the game dictates.
Compare that to the economy and the similarities are once again clear. A volatile and unpredictable marketplace can completely transform the way a company does business, meaning CEOs must be able to adapt and change the way they work to stay at the forefront of the industry — or even just in the black.
So, when you think about it, it’s clear that the game of poker has much to teach business leaders, whether a Fortune 500 business or just an eager start-up with a bright idea.
Leave a Reply