There are many things to look for in the world of gaming, and one of those things is a good leader. We have discussed how important the time and resources you put into a game are. There is also the matter of diplomacy[1]. Both of these are important in finding a leader.
There are steps to not just finding one, but becoming one.
Trying to sandwich a course on mastering leadership into bite-sized parts might be daunting, but this can be a good start and lead you in the right direction.
Other Leaders and Leading Yourself
In the first article in this series[2], I showed the difference between A gamers and S gamers. The key was that the player not only had the skill to master the game, but to be relevant in the community. Almost everyone who wishes to jump from the master of the game to make a living has to master themselves and show others they have.
Here are some steps to help you find people with these traits, as well as hone them in yourself.
- Finding proper traits through recon
- Pay close attention to global chat as you game on a new game or server. Don’t necessarily focus on joining a clan or guild, but note who is actively working for them. Also, look for friendly vets who give legit advice.
- Measure the entire active server’s maturity level in global chat or community groups. Know where your tendencies are and what kind of toxicity people will face in an average day.
- Pay close attention to global chat as you game on a new game or server. Don’t necessarily focus on joining a clan or guild, but note who is actively working for them. Also, look for friendly vets who give legit advice.
- Read leadership books
- I highly recommend reading 48 Laws of Power [3] and Art of War [4] by Sun Tsu. Gaming is competitive, and these two classics will help you.
- Once you have mastered these, when you find yourself face-to-face with someone else who has read this material and uses them, don’t always follow them to the letter. Leave openings on purpose to see what they do. This is especially critical in long-haul games like survival and kingdom-builder games.
- I highly recommend reading 48 Laws of Power [3] and Art of War [4] by Sun Tsu. Gaming is competitive, and these two classics will help you.
Connecting with Mature People
The mature are like pearls in a community of cornflakes. When I say “mature,” I don’t mean slinging swear words or discussing things that shouldn’t be said before a minor. I talk about the people who don’t do either of these things. You have to look for those who don’t banter about nonsense or complain on global chat. If they do have something to fuss about, they explain why and state their case.
Even if you are an introvert, when you find people with a semblance of sanity in a game, take the time to PM them. You don’t have to join their guild; acknowledge them as someone you might want to party with or keep in connection with to do them favors. Be thankful if they end up in your team, mainly if they give advice when you are new. Keep them on your friends list and check in on them now and then to keep the connection fresh.
The ones who keep their nose out of toxic situations are just as valued. One simple announcement saying you are muting the channel will bring you peace and enjoyment. If you are the first, you might inspire others to find peace instead of dealing with toxicity. Before leaving the chat, paying attention to who else does it will do you well.
Leadership Away From the Game
I gave you some book suggestions earlier, but the best places to use them are in the community, not the game. Most games have a Discord, Steam community, or game forum on their website.
Haunt these places frequently, but be proactive. You learn many things about the game and the people that play it by simply civilly adding your two cents. This isn’t necessary for people who want to play the game. If you enjoy it enough to put a lot of time into it, getting your name out will connect you with people who want to do the same. Always surround yourself with people who want to better themselves and others. In this way, you grow together.
Let’s say you want to make a living streaming or playing Pro.
You will have difficulty finding a team, let alone sponsors, with an attitude problem and a lack of connection within the gaming community. Even if you aren’t a leader on a team, especially if you are a solo player in a fighting game scene, communication with that game’s scene will be critical.
Another factor for being a part of the community is just commenting on the game and getting into discussions. If devs frequent their communities (as they should), some might pay attention to your suggestions and discoveries.
Commanding In-Game
It takes more listening than talking. You have to gauge the party and situation.
Pay attention to see if someone is teachable because sometimes you are the only person who wants to keep the party together. If the group wants to all do their own thing, you might want to queue up for another round.
They may be genuinely confused, though. If you know a better way of doing things, the time to step up is sooner rather than later. If you’re unsure how veteran your other party members are, it might be good to form your thoughts as a question rather than a command. You can be in any position in the party, but if the party is having issues, a solution in the form of “What do you think about this” preserves your humility instead of bossing people around.
Let’s take a dip into leading Clans.
If it’s all about you, don’t lead. That also means “it’s all about your clan or guild.”
Do you want to lead an organization? Know you will babysit — a lot. You will babysit your babysitters, and have to sift through the wheat of people who will fit your needs and goals.
You will have to figure out your needs and goals to do that. This also means you will have to buddy with the people who lead other clans. Knowing their needs and goals is also key.
Though not many do this, if you want a guild of high renown, you will need a trusted secretary who shares all their files with you and other officers. Being organized will make or break you.
Delegation is also critical, as doing everything yourself will drive you insane, particularly if the game has multiple interests like PvP, PvE, or even numerous games.
You might want to start running a small part of an existing guild before running one alone. It will also show you if you have the patience to lead.
In a Nutshell
Leading yourself is the first step to leading other people. To do this, you need to know yourself as well as learn how to figure out other people. Recon is great for this. Connect with people who can be professional in an unprofessional setting, and don’t be unprofessional yourself. Be ready to take your job seriously if you decide to run a clan or guild.
Above all else, whether you believe you can or can’t be a leader…you are correct. Know that you can, and you will.
Footnotes
[1] https://www.geeksundergrace.com/christian-living/diplomacy-in-gaming/
[2] https://www.geeksundergrace.com/gaming/defining-gamer-types-and-how-to-coexist/
[3] https://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197
[4] https://sites.ualberta.ca/~enoch/Readings/The_Art_Of_War.pdf