maneuverers
Those who steer
Maneuverers are people who maneuver—who guide something through a complex space or situation, whether literally or figuratively.
A driver maneuvering through traffic is a maneuverer; so is a politician maneuvering through a contentious debate.
The word often carries a slight suggestion of cunning or calculated movement: skilled maneuverers in the world of corporate politics.
Experts in maneuvering
- strategistsDesigners of careful plans
- commandersMilitary authority figures
- flankingAt the sides of
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
ambush · feint · pincer · reconnaissance · infiltration · counterattack · diversion · raid
Foreign government representatives
- negotiatorsThose who arrange agreements
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
backstabbing · manipulation · compromise · deal-making · power plays · influence · persuasion · spin
Those who fly aircraft
- aviatorsThose who fly planes
- bankingFinancial institution transactions
- yawingDeviating from heading
- pitchingDelivering toward the plate
rolling · throttling · climbing · descending · taxiing · takeoff · landing · approach
Those steering vessels
- sailorsMaritime vessel crew members
- navigatorsThose who direct travel
- skippersVessel commanders
- coxswainsCrew boat steerers
tacking · jibing · docking · mooring · anchoring · berthing · coming about · heeling
Highest-titled experts
- pinningFastening with pointed fasteners
- forkingDividing into branches
- skeweringPiercing with a pointed rod
- castlingKing-rook simultaneous shift
fianchetto · sacrifice · gambit · zugzwang · tempo · initiative · development · exchange
tacticians
Experts in maneuvering
- strategistsDesigners of careful plans
- commandersMilitary authority figures
- flankingAt the sides of
encirclement · ambush · feint · pincer · reconnaissance · infiltration · counterattack · diversion · raid · skirmish
diplomats
Foreign government representatives
- negotiatorsThose who arrange agreements
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- positioningArranging in specific locations
leverage · backstabbing · manipulation · compromise · deal-making · power plays · influence · persuasion · spin · backchannels
pilots
Those who fly aircraft
pitching · rolling · throttling · climbing · descending · taxiing · takeoff · landing · approach · holding pattern
helmsmen
Those steering vessels
- sailorsMaritime vessel crew members
- navigatorsThose who direct travel
- skippersVessel commanders
coxswains · tacking · jibing · docking · mooring · anchoring · berthing · coming about · heeling · trimming
grandmasters
Highest-titled experts
- pinningFastening with pointed fasteners
- forkingDividing into branches
- skeweringPiercing with a pointed rod
castling · fianchetto · sacrifice · gambit · zugzwang · tempo · initiative · development · exchange · combination
maneuverersbystanders
People present but uninvolved
spectators · onlookers · wallflowers · fence-sitters · do-nothings
maneuverersnaifs
Guileless, unworldly people
innocents · straight shooters · ingenues · simpletons · dupes
maneuverersplodders
Slow, persistent workers
dogmatists · immovables · sticklers · automatons · stick-in-the-muds