When you start a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign, there’s a piece of advice that experienced Dungeon Masters repeat over and over: “Run a Session Zero.” This is the meeting before the adventure begins—the chance to talk through what kind of game you’re playing, what the players can expect, and what’s expected of them.
Done well, it prevents mismatched expectations, unnecessary conflict, and disappointment down the road.
And here’s the thing: if you’ve ever stepped into a leadership role in the workplace, you’ve already run something like a Session Zero—or you really should have. Taking on a new leadership role requires the setting of expectations as early as possible.
So, Whether you’re gathering your adventuring party or leading a new team, the principle is the same: Set expectations early, clearly, and collaboratively.
What’s a Session Zero in D&D?
Session Zero happens before the first dice are rolled and before any characters are created. It’s where you cover things like:
- Game tone – Is this a gritty, survival-focused story or a lighthearted romp through the realms?
- Table etiquette – How do we handle disagreements? Phones at the table—okay or no?
- Content boundaries – What topics are off-limits to keep the game safe and fun?
- Player goals – Do they want deep character arcs, tactical combat, or puzzle solving?
- Your role as DM – How you’ll run the game, your style of storytelling, and how flexible you are.
The point isn’t to lecture—it’s to make sure everyone knows how the game will work, what they can bring to it, and what they’ll get out of it. Players also play a role here, and a good DM will aim to incorporate their expectations into the session as well.
Why Leaders Need a “Session Zero” Too
When you step into leadership, your new team is looking for the same types of clarity. They want to know:
- The mission – What are we working towards?
- The culture – How do we operate together day-to-day?
- Boundaries – What’s non-negotiable, and where is there flexibility?
- Your style – How do you make decisions? How do you give feedback?
- What you expect of them – Effort, communication, collaboration, deadlines.
And just like a DM, you’re also telling them: Here’s what you can expect from me.
That might include:
- Transparency about decisions.
- Support when things get tough.
- Respect for work–life balance.
- An open door for concerns or ideas.
This conversation has to go both ways and a good leader will aim to understand their new team members expectations also. Without this up-front conversation, teams can quickly run into “mismatched game” problems—where some think it’s all about speed, others think it’s about perfection, and no one’s sure which one will get rewarded.
The Mutual Expectations Loop
As alluded to above, in both D&D and leadership, expectation-setting isn’t one-way.
It’s not just “Here’s the list of rules.” People at the game table or the boardroom table will turn off at that.
Instead, it’s a two-way agreement, for example:
- You share your expectations of them.
- Players: Be on time, respect each other’s spotlight, communicate your goals for the character.
- Team members: Collaborate, meet deadlines, raise risks early.
- They share their expectations of you.
- Players: “I’d like more roleplay than combat” or “I’d rather keep sessions under three hours.”
- Team members: “I value regular feedback” or “I work best with clear priorities.”
This loop ensures no one’s surprised later. In a D&D game, it means fewer awkward “That’s not the kind of game I signed up for” moments. In a workplace, it means fewer frustrations, missed deadlines, or most importantly disengaged employees.
The Session Zero Payoff
When everyone is on the same page from the start:
- The game flows better.
- The team works more smoothly.
- Challenges feel like shared puzzles to solve, not personal obstacles.
- Trust builds faster.
A Session Zero in D&D might only take an hour, but it can save a whole campaign from crumbling. Similarly, a “leadership Session Zero” might take a single team meeting, but it can set the foundation for years of collaboration.
Final Thought:
When using Session Zero’s in both D&D and leadership, you’re not just setting rules—you’re setting the culture. Your Session Zero, whether at the table or in the office, tells everyone:
“Here’s how we’re going to succeed together.” Effectively setting your game or team up for success right at the very beginning.
Below is a quick reference sheet to help guide your Session Zero, whether at the game table or at work.
You can download this and other resources here.