The future is WoW: Learning to lead through online games

Wasting away the week running massive dungeon raids in World of Warcraft? It turns out that might be time well spent, after all.

According to a lengthy report in the Harvard Business Review, the techniques used in organizing, leading and managing groups of online gamers could provide a window into the future of real-world business leadership.

The claim stems from a study conducted by software development company Seriosity, who identified key traits shared by successful guild leaders from a variety of online games like World of Warcraft, Everquest and Eve Online. From encouraging risk-taking to lightning quick decision-making, it found that many online gamers are actually honing essential leadership skills while smiting foes with spells and swords.

"True, leading 25 guild members in a six-hour raid on Illidan the Betrayer's temple fortress is hardly the same as running a complex global organization...but don't dismiss online games as mere play," states article author Byron Reeves. "The best ones differ from traditional video games as much as universities do from one-room schoolhouses..."

Tangentially teaching players how to manage a team isn't online gaming's only benefit, though. It turns out the way games reward players for working together is of equal import, particularly when the reward isn't simply more cash. For example, guild leaders in WoW can dole out highly-prized DKPs (Dragon Kill Points) to team members for sticking together and taking down high-level enemies. Businesses could learn a thing about from that kind of non-monetary incentive program, claims the article.

The Seriosity study also points out that unlike most real-world workplaces, the performance of team members in online games is immediately evident and unabashedly transparent, making it easier for leaders to effectively manage individuals. That's right, amateur guild leaders - understanding the strengths and weaknesses of Sir Magicpants the Night Elf and Bullface the Tauren Warrior is will potentially help you figure out which Best Buy employee deserves a gold star.

Just make sure he shares his loot.

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