From Azeroth as Management Training
The world of World game isn’t just a virtual fantasy world (MMORPG), but also a unique learning environment to develop many skills……and you know what ?
This article is written by a ex former guild master of a guild of 170 people….but that was a long time ago.
All the skills you use in the game can be useful in real life.
I invite you to read this incredible story of a player who wins elections.
The Virtual School
Managing a guild in WoW requires much more than raid planning and accumulating experience points. It demands:
- Communication.
- Meticulous coordination.
- Strategic resource management.
Consistent communication with guild members, conflict resolution during disagreements, and careful planning of each step in a significant quest are key aspects of guild management that remarkably resonate with the world of work.
Defined roles
Every guild member has a specific role, just like every department in a company contributes to its overall mission.
In the virtual world, a tank takes on the role of protector, drawing enemies’ attention to defend the team, while a healer cares for everyone’s health and well-being. These roles correspond to the different specializations found in the professional world. A project manager has different skills from a marketing expert, but together, they form a cohesive team.
Let’s consider the example of the alchemist within the guild. This individual isn’t just a potion maker but an essential support during raids. Their potions can save lives and alter the course of a challenging battle. This dynamic is mirrored in the professional world, where some employees bring specific skills that advance the entire company. Just as an data analyst can provide crucial insights influencing decision-making, the alchemist’s potions alter the group’s fate.
Epic Gear for the Office: Transferring WoW Skills to the Professional World
In the realm of World of Warcraft, the skills you acquire don’t remain confined to virtual lands. They transform into true epic gear to tackle the challenges of the professional world.
Let’s explore how the skills developed as a guild leader can seamlessly adapt to your daily work environment.
From Orchestrated to Virtual — Remote Communication
Coordinating a guild in WoW often happens remotely, through online messages.
This experience can be a valuable asset in a professional world increasingly oriented towards remote work. The virtual communication skills you cultivate while managing your guild can translate into effective communication with geographically distant colleagues.
Conflict Resolution
Conflicts aren’t uncommon in WoW guilds, whether due to strategic disagreements or differences of opinion. Learning to navigate these sensitive situations and find balanced solutions is an essential skill. This conflict resolution skill can be directly applied to tense interactions within work teams, where reaching a compromise is necessary.
Do you know that in many games, factions often clash. In world of warcraft it’s called the horde and the alliance
But for us, imagine the merge of two guilds in WoW.
Each guild possesses its own culture and identity, just as each company has its unique vision and values. Harmonizing these distinct cultures is a pivotal step towards a successful merger. Similarly, companies must work towards seamlessly integrating cultures, ensuring that values and objectives align.
From Loot to Budget — Resource Management
In WoW, resource management is critical. Planning the use of resources to maximize team efficiency is paramount. This skill translates directly to the professional world, where budget management and resource planning are key to success.
In professional life, you will have to choose certifications to offer to your teams or even training. All this will have to be done according to the time of your teams but also your budget.
Experiences in the game can teach you how to allocate resources judiciously to achieve optimal outcomes. Did your employee needs this, he is interested for many reasons but it is not of crucial importance for him or he does not need it.
The Art of Scheduling — Managing Time
In WoW, meticulous planning of raid times is necessary to ensure that all team members are available simultaneously, despite their personal commitments outside the game.
Guild leaders must juggle different time zones, availabilities, and preferences, much like managers need to consider work hours, meetings, and individual constraints to effectively schedule projects.
A managers in the professional world must devise project timelines that consider time constraints and available human resources. Scheduling becomes an essential skill to optimize productivity and achieve objectives.
Expertise and Mentoring
In WoW, experienced players often become references within their class. They guide new players, share knowledge, and help them improve. This mentoring dynamic translates to the professional world, where experts mentor less-experienced colleagues to develop their skills and contribute to team growth.
The universe of World of Warcraft might seem worlds apart from the realm of business, but within it lie invaluable lessons in managing.
I hope this little comparison has shown you that in the world of video games, hidden similarities with the real world exist! Every moment of your life, whether virtual or real, leads you to develop skills.
With that said, I bid you goodbye, whether it’s here or in Azeroth.
