What playing bridge can teach us about servant-leadership

OK, this is admittedly a very light-hearted post. I came across this article tonight about how Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, both very serious contract bridge players, have put up $1 million to teach junior high kids how to play the game. They've even both agreed to take on the winners of a school tournament if anyone decides to take them up on their offer.

Buffett says that what bridge has over chess and poker is that it requires players to work with someone else. "You have to learn to understand your partner, to be tolerant, sympathetic, encouraging. Those are skills that are not bad to have in life."

Agreed, Mr. Buffett. Although I can think of one or two things that junior high schools should be teaching kids before teaching bridge, I do think kids would learn at least a few more life skills (some even related to being a good servant-leader) playing bridge over the lunch hour rather than playing Texas Hold 'Em (here and here).