'It takes a tremendous amount of courage' for some women simply to sit down at a poker table for the first time, she notes. The next step is building up the confidence to use that information to make calculated risks, Just says. Thinking strategically is all about gathering information. 'Like the best negotiators, the best storytellers at a poker table cleverly weave a narrative to apply pressure, to bluff and ultimately to win,' Just says. Reaching the third level correlates with career-focused leadership and negotiation skills, she adds.
'You're practicing a complex, ever-changing thought process that gives you experience with how power and influence shift as new information is gathered.' This is 'the realm of pro players and top negotiators,' Just says. Lastly, you start asking yourself what cards your opponents might think you have. 'You start analyzing the probabilities of outcomes,' Just says, noting that this is a necessary skill for negotiating in business.
Then, your perspective expands, she says: You think about what cards your opponents could potentially have, so you can analyze how likely you are to win. In the first level, 'where most recreational players compete,' you mostly focus on the cards in your hand and whether to raise on your opponents' bets or fold, Just says.
As you become comfortable reading your opponents, bluffing and predicting likely outcomes, you'll work your way through three levels of strategizing, Just says.
