
episode 96 - the word is nim
From the word is leadership by Emmanuel Gobillot
November 16, 2025 · 18 min · Season 2 · Episode 96
About this episode
This episode explores how the game of nim serves as a metaphor for leadership, emphasizing the importance of social strategies and self-regulation.
At first glance, nim (a simple game of removing matchsticks) may not seem like a deep leadership metaphor. But look closer, and it reveals powerful truths. In this episode, I explore how leaders can use games not just for relaxation, but for self-regulation. We also uncover the broad range of social strategies (from cooperation to competition) and how mastering the full spectrum enables faster, more effective leadership. Because leadership, like any game, isn’t about always winning. It’s about knowing how and when to play.
People in this episode
Host: Emmanuel Gobillot
Topics covered
- leadership
- games
- self-regulation
- social strategies
- cooperation
- competition
Keywords
- nim
- leadership metaphor
- matchsticks
- self-regulation
- social strategies
- cooperation
- competition
More episodes of the word is leadership
- episode 100 - the word is disperse · December 14, 2025 · 22 min
- episode 99 - the word is chipper · December 7, 2025 · 19 min
- episode 98- the word is predecessor · November 30, 2025 · 19 min
- episode 97 - the word is panther · November 23, 2025 · 18 min
- episode 95 - the word is parent · November 9, 2025
- episode 94 - the word is hanami · November 2, 2025 · 21 min
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