Comments on: Becoming a Great Manager – Part 1 http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198 Teambuilding, Leadership and Management in at least two worlds. Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:49:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: admin http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198/comment-page-1#comment-51 admin Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:12:50 +0000 http://defeatdragons.com/?p=198#comment-51 Well, I was mostly teasing you a little, Gravity, but in the discussion of Mountain Sickness there's a bit of a caution about taking the higher numbered questions for granted. I think I'm misinterpreting a little just for the sake of dialogue with you, but he does say that if everything in Camp 2 and Camp 3 seems great and all those questions are positive, <em>before </em>Base Camp and Camp one are answered in the positive, you may be disengaged at a very deep level and in danger of jumping ship at the first good offer. In Wow terms, burning out. It would be something like "Yeah, I like my team members, I'm learning and growing, but somehow I'm not fully satisfied with how I fit in, what I get and what I contribute...". Regarding #8, I'd ask you what differentiates your guild from others on your server? What unique niche does your guild fill better than any other? For #10, I can see that it would be a very individual question. Some people don't believe in forming close bonds in virtual friendships... but then, some don't believe in forming them at work either. Perhaps it would be easier to accept the question reworded as "confidante" or "friendly relationship" rather than "best friend". I think to some degree what he's getting at, in game terms, is the environment the TV show Cheers was famous for: a place where everyone knows your name. What that really added up to was that at least one person cared how you were, and would notice if you vanished, other than for your contribution as a raider. Also, of course, it's great to have one person (at work or in game), who will always offer a shoulder when you need to talk or rant. If you don't have that in your guild, I think you're answering "Do not agree" to question #10. Well, I was mostly teasing you a little, Gravity, but in the discussion of Mountain Sickness there’s a bit of a caution about taking the higher numbered questions for granted. I think I’m misinterpreting a little just for the sake of dialogue with you, but he does say that if everything in Camp 2 and Camp 3 seems great and all those questions are positive, before Base Camp and Camp one are answered in the positive, you may be disengaged at a very deep level and in danger of jumping ship at the first good offer. In Wow terms, burning out. It would be something like “Yeah, I like my team members, I’m learning and growing, but somehow I’m not fully satisfied with how I fit in, what I get and what I contribute…”.

Regarding #8, I’d ask you what differentiates your guild from others on your server? What unique niche does your guild fill better than any other?

For #10, I can see that it would be a very individual question. Some people don’t believe in forming close bonds in virtual friendships… but then, some don’t believe in forming them at work either. Perhaps it would be easier to accept the question reworded as “confidante” or “friendly relationship” rather than “best friend”. I think to some degree what he’s getting at, in game terms, is the environment the TV show Cheers was famous for: a place where everyone knows your name. What that really added up to was that at least one person cared how you were, and would notice if you vanished, other than for your contribution as a raider. Also, of course, it’s great to have one person (at work or in game), who will always offer a shoulder when you need to talk or rant. If you don’t have that in your guild, I think you’re answering “Do not agree” to question #10.

]]> By: Becoming a Great Manager - Part 3 | Defeat Dragons http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198/comment-page-1#comment-50 Becoming a Great Manager - Part 3 | Defeat Dragons Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:37:37 +0000 http://defeatdragons.com/?p=198#comment-50 [...] Becoming a Great Manager – Part 1 Becoming a Great Manager – Part 2 [...] [...] Becoming a Great Manager – Part 1 Becoming a Great Manager – Part 2 [...]

]]> By: Gravity http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198/comment-page-1#comment-49 Gravity Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:28:21 +0000 http://defeatdragons.com/?p=198#comment-49 Fair point. I re-read them and think it's really only #8 and #10 that I doubt validity to an MMO. hehe and you're really tested my memory with reference to 'mountain sickness'; I had to google it. Mountain climbers know this well. As Buckingham states: “To reach the summit you have to pay your dues — if you just helicopter to camp 3 and rise to the summit, experienced guides know you will never make it. Mountain sickness will sap your energy and slow your progress to a crawl.” The same is true with information and most things in life: If all we ever seek out and engage with are the highlights, the end result is going to be mountain sickness. Fair point. I re-read them and think it’s really only #8 and #10 that I doubt validity to an MMO. hehe and you’re really tested my memory with reference to ‘mountain sickness’; I had to google it.

Mountain climbers know this well. As Buckingham states: “To reach the summit you have to pay your dues — if you just helicopter to camp 3 and rise to the summit, experienced guides know you will never make it. Mountain sickness will sap your energy and slow your progress to a crawl.”
The same is true with information and most things in life: If all we ever seek out and engage with are the highlights, the end result is going to be mountain sickness.

]]> By: Becoming a Great Manager - Part 2 | Defeat Dragons http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198/comment-page-1#comment-47 Becoming a Great Manager - Part 2 | Defeat Dragons Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:48:48 +0000 http://defeatdragons.com/?p=198#comment-47 [...] Becoming a Great Manager – Part 1, we talked about the 12 questions that are indicators of a high-performing workplace, according to [...] [...] Becoming a Great Manager – Part 1, we talked about the 12 questions that are indicators of a high-performing workplace, according to [...]

]]> By: admin http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198/comment-page-1#comment-46 admin Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:18:52 +0000 http://defeatdragons.com/?p=198#comment-46 Hey, Gravity, glad you're still reading! I totally agree with you about the impact of the book. It never seems to stay off my desk for long, and I had it in mind for a few posts when I pondered creating this blog. As for questions 8-12, I <strong>do </strong>think they're valid in an MMO, although perhaps a guild leader has a greater challenge on their hands in getting folks to Camp 3 and the Summit. The book says you may be showing the symptoms of Mountain Sickness, by the way ;) . In our guild, I know that some of our members take some real pride in having a guild that fills our particular niche for people (purpose). I know that many consider it really important that we retain only raiders committed to performing well. I know for myself, that there are times when my close friendships hold me to the grind of raiding when nothing else might. As for the last two questions, I think that if our members ever truly felt stagnated in their own progression or the guild's, turnover would be huge. So I do think the team-oriented questions apply, as well as the more individual ones. Hey, Gravity, glad you’re still reading! I totally agree with you about the impact of the book. It never seems to stay off my desk for long, and I had it in mind for a few posts when I pondered creating this blog. As for questions 8-12, I do think they’re valid in an MMO, although perhaps a guild leader has a greater challenge on their hands in getting folks to Camp 3 and the Summit. The book says you may be showing the symptoms of Mountain Sickness, by the way ;) .

In our guild, I know that some of our members take some real pride in having a guild that fills our particular niche for people (purpose). I know that many consider it really important that we retain only raiders committed to performing well. I know for myself, that there are times when my close friendships hold me to the grind of raiding when nothing else might. As for the last two questions, I think that if our members ever truly felt stagnated in their own progression or the guild’s, turnover would be huge. So I do think the team-oriented questions apply, as well as the more individual ones.

]]> By: Gravity http://defeatdragons.com/archives/198/comment-page-1#comment-45 Gravity Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:51:24 +0000 http://defeatdragons.com/?p=198#comment-45 This is, I think, one of the most important books published in management practice in the last 10 years. (Just checked, got my copy in '99). It's research is awe inspiring and the 12 questions are absolutely spot-on. I'd not thought of applying them to guild management, nice idea. I wonder however whether the 'final summit' questions of 8 to 12 are valid in an MMO; I suspect they don't. This is, I think, one of the most important books published in management practice in the last 10 years. (Just checked, got my copy in ’99). It’s research is awe inspiring and the 12 questions are absolutely spot-on.

I’d not thought of applying them to guild management, nice idea. I wonder however whether the ‘final summit’ questions of 8 to 12 are valid in an MMO; I suspect they don’t.

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