What Simone LaFray Can Teach Men About Making Smarter Moves: Lessons from Spies, Chess and Sweets

Simone LaFray faces the sort of decisions that would stump most adults. At thirteen, this French junior spy must track down a chess prodigy in Mumbai, decode the mysteries of a powerful device called the OmniKey, and navigate shifting alliances where motives remain murky. Her methodical approach to intelligence gathering and thinking offers lessons for men dealing with high-stakes business negotiations, career pivots and complex personal decisions.

The third instalment of S.P. O’Farrell’s award-winning series throws Simone into deeper waters, but her systematic approach to problem-solving remains consistent. She gathers intelligence before making moves, reads people’s underlying motivations and works out the bigger picture before committing to action. These same principles drive successful business leaders, from Warren Buffett’s methodical investment approaches to negotiators who use game theory to anticipate opponents’ moves.

The Simone LaFray Method: Intelligence Before Action

Simone’s assignment in ‘Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai’ demonstrates the value of thorough intelligence gathering. Tasked with tracking down fifteen-year-old chess champion Reyansh Balakrishnan, she doesn’t rush in. Instead, she methodically pieces together information about the OmniKey device he helped create and analyses his connections to underground networks.

This mirrors how business leaders who read fiction develop better analytical skills, approaching complex situations with patience and careful observation. Research shows that fiction readers develop enhanced empathy and theory of mind, crucial skills for reading motives and understanding stakeholders’ true intentions.

Simone’s intelligence-gathering process follows a clear pattern: she identifies key players, maps their relationships and motivations, then looks for gaps in the information before making moves. This approach proves essential when navigating situations where trust becomes complicated, particularly when dealing with Reyansh, whose ‘motives are muddy at best’ despite his obvious talents in both chess and technology.

Chessmaster Thinking in High-Stakes Decisions

The chess tournament setting in Mumbai serves as the perfect metaphor for decision-making under pressure. Warren Buffett credits chess with developing his methodical problem-solving approach, teaching him to think several moves ahead and evaluate risks carefully.

Simone must face Reyansh in his own territory, understanding that ‘as queens, pawns, and brazen knights of unknown intent take the board, sides are chosen, and nothing is as it seems’. This captures the essence of business negotiations where apparent allies might have hidden agendas and seemingly straightforward deals contain multiple layers of complexity.

Game theory research demonstrates how chess-style thinking improves negotiation outcomes by encouraging rational, outcome-focused decisions rather than impulsive emotional responses. The key lies in anticipating opponents’ moves while maintaining flexibility to adapt based on new information.

The novel’s setup – where Simone ‘won’t be working alone’ but must navigate unclear loyalties – reflects modern business environments where partnerships and alliances shift rapidly. Success requires the chess player’s ability to evaluate multiple scenarios simultaneously while maintaining focus on long-term objectives.

Handling Growth and Expansion

As Simone’s family expands their pastry business to Rome and beyond, she discovers that personal and professional growth brings new complexities. Her life is ‘accelerating, much to her displeasure’ – a familiar experience for men managing career advancement, family responsibilities and business expansion simultaneously.

The parallel between Simone’s expanding world and business growth isn’t accidental. Both require adaptability and the ability to function effectively without complete information. The OmniKey’s secrets remain mysterious ‘even to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’, yet decisions must be made and actions taken.

S.P. O’Farrell’s background championing special education and environmental initiatives likely influences his understanding of complex systems and adaptive problem-solving. His experience working with diverse challenges translates into realistic portrayals of how young people – and by extension, adults – navigate uncertainty while maintaining core principles.

Simone’s approach to managing expansion involves careful resource allocation, careful partnerships and maintaining quality standards while scaling operations. These same principles apply whether you’re opening new office locations, entering foreign markets or building a global network of connections.

Navigating Morality and Loyalty in Leadership

The novel’s central tension – whether Simone will ‘choose what she knows—or what she believes’ – captures a fundamental leadership dilemma. Duty and personal conviction don’t always align, particularly as responsibility increases and stakes escalate.

This moral complexity intensifies as ‘the spectre of an old enemy rises from its grave’ and ‘right and wrong blur’. Simone must make decisions that affect not just her mission’s success but the safety of others and the integrity of her principles. The pressure to compromise grows as circumstances become more serious.

Business leaders face similar moments when company policies conflict with personal ethics, when profitable decisions may harm stakeholders, or when loyalty to one group means disappointing another. The novel suggests that effective leadership requires developing systems for navigating these tensions before they arise.

Simone’s methodical approach extends to ethical decision-making. She doesn’t rely solely on instinct but weighs consequences, considers multiple perspectives and seeks guidance when appropriate. This structured approach to moral reasoning proves particularly valuable under pressure.

Practical Takeaways from Junior Spy Method

Simone’s methods translate directly to business and personal decision-making. Her intelligence-gathering process involves identifying reliable sources, cross-referencing information and looking for patterns that reveal underlying motivations. These skills prove invaluable in due diligence processes, market research and personnel decisions.

The chess tournament framework offers another practical tool. Business leaders who apply chess thinking to decision-making develop better skills for anticipating long-term results and understanding complex system interactions.

Reading people’s motives – a crucial skill for Simone when dealing with characters whose loyalties shift – requires careful observation of actions versus stated intentions. Research shows that executives who read fiction develop better social intelligence and more nuanced understanding of human motivation.

Perhaps most importantly, Simone demonstrates the value of maintaining principles while adapting tactics. She faces pressure to compromise her beliefs but consistently seeks solutions that honour both practical requirements and ethical standards. This approach proves more sustainable than either rigid adherence to rules or complete situational flexibility.

The Edge from Unexpected Sources

The idea that a thirteen-year-old spy novel offers genuine business insights might seem far-fetched, but research supports the connection. Complex business negotiations are increasingly viewed as games where success depends on information gathering, pattern recognition and thinking – exactly the skills Simone demonstrates.

O’Farrell’s approach to problem-solving, informed by his work in special education and environmental initiatives, emphasises systematic approaches to complex challenges. His characters model practical methods for managing uncertainty, building alliances and maintaining effectiveness under pressure.

The edge often comes from cross-pollinating ideas from unexpected sources. Military tacticians study business cases, chess masters analyse psychological warfare, and apparently, junior spy novels offer frameworks for better decision-making. The key lies in recognising transferable principles rather than dismissing ideas based on their source.

Simone LaFray’s methodical approach to intelligence, thinking and ethical decision-making provides a surprisingly solid framework for men navigating complex business and personal challenges. Sometimes the best methods come from sources you wouldn’t expect – even from a thirteen-year-old spy with a talent for chess and a family business in pastries.