Tag: Business

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Embracing Feedback: The Power of Growth through Dungeons and Dragons

Feedback is a vital component of personal and professional growth, and its value extends beyond the confines of the business world. A strong leader should be able to give and receive feedback graciously without getting emotional. In this post, we explore how the experience of receiving feedback while playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) can cultivate valuable skills that are applicable well beyond the game. We look at the art of giving and receiving feedback, active listening, self-reflection, adapting to constructive criticism, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The Art of Giving and Receiving Feedback

D&D provides a rich environment for feedback exchange. Players often offer feedback on each other’s decisions, role-playing, or overall gameplay experience. After a session has finished the players will often talk about what happened. This includes the actions taken by players, their consequences and how things could have gone differently. Of course, this feedback is not mean spirited. Rather a way to collectively learn from mistakes and learn how to work together better.

By learning to provide constructive feedback and receiving it with openness, players develop skills in giving and receiving feedback effectively. This fosters an atmosphere of trust, respect, and growth that can be mirrored in the business world. However, giving and receiving feedback about the game is less likely to make you feel bad. After all, mistakes in game are often the best source of stories and shared reminiscing.

Feedback, whether constructive or positive should be given and received through the lens of growth (more on this later). Both help you grow and improve as an individual.

This article in Forbes Magazine give five tips for giving and receiving feedback:

  1. Lean into positivity
  2. Remember, feedback is all about perspective
  3. Set team members up for success
  4. Tackle necessary negative feedback
  5. Focus on enhancing rather than improving performance

If you are having to give feedback and are unsure how to frame it try using the SBI model. Situation – Behavior-Impact. It focuses on the behavior rather than the actual person preventing it being misread as a personal attack. As a simple explanation you would frame your conversation as follows:

  1. Situation- describe the situation. For example, our party was resting at the village only to wake up to discover a horde of orcs besieging us in the morning.
  2. Behavior- Upon seeing the orcs outside the gates you immediately yelled your battlecry and charged.
  3. Impact- The orcs countercharged, breached the walls, razed the village to the ground while our party barely escaped with our lives. In addition, we had to leave the cart of loot behind. As a result the mage, bard and thief are furious and will need some calming down.
  4. Behavior-What behaviors would help avoid the impact? This is where you get the impetuous fighter to think of alternatives.
  5. Impact- What might the new impacts have been?

This method removes the worry of having to think on your feet when giving feedback. I’ve used this model very effectively in my own leadership journey. Check out the link for a more detailed explanation.

Active Listening and Empathy

In D&D, active listening is vital for understanding the narrative, fellow players, and the DM. When players receive feedback, they have an opportunity to practice active listening, showing empathy, and understanding diverse perspectives.

These skills are invaluable in the business world, where leaders must listen attentively to their team members, clients, and stakeholders to make informed decisions and foster strong relationships. A leader who doesn’t practice active listening will miss vital information. Their team may come to consider them uncaring, effectively eroding any leadership capital you may have stored.

Despite mirrors often being used as traps in game, self-reflection is essential in improving your game and professional life

Self-Reflection and Growth Mindset

Playing D&D encourages self-reflection as players analyze their choices, actions, and impact on the game. Receiving feedback from the DM and other party members prompts players to reflect on their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This cultivates a growth mindset—a belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort.

Similarly, in leadership individuals who embrace self-reflection and a growth mindset are more open to feedback, eager to learn, and resilient in the face of challenges. So much so that teaching self-reflection in leadership courses and MBAs is mandatory across the world.

I’ve tried to practice self-reflection throughout my leadership journey to date. I’ve found it lets me analyze my mistakes while preventing me from repeating them. On the other side self reflection has allowed me to understand where my strengths lie. Ultimately, this has led me to pursue a leadership career rather than sticking to my technical roots.

Adapting to Constructive Criticism

Of course, not all feedback is positive. If you have a table of players with a growth mindst D&D offers opportunities to receive constructive criticism that can help refine gameplay or role-playing skills. Learning to accept and embrace constructive criticism enables players to grow and enhance their performance. In my role as Dungeon Master I often ask my players how they found the session. Of course as part of this I receive constructive criticism. Rather than getting upset, I look at this as an opportunity to make the game more fun. Of course, this is much easier to do when you know that those giving the feedback are coming from a positive standpoint. Regardless, this is the most productive angle to take.

This skill translates directly to leadership, where professionals must be receptive to feedback to refine their skills, improve processes, and drive organizational success. If you are given constructive criticism in a professional setting thank the individual. Then reflect on it. Take time to consider why they might be presenting this to you, is it real and what can you do. Don’t just dismiss it out of hand. Treat it as a gift.

Applying Feedback for Personal and Professional Growth

The experience of receiving feedback in D&D not only improves your game, but can also serve as a springboard for personal and professional growth. By actively applying feedback, we can refine our decision-making, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills within the game. AS we’ve learned, these skills directly transfer to the business world, enabling individuals to adapt, learn, and improve their performance. Win-Win.

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Critical Role: A Journey of Growth and Leadership Evolution

In the world of online entertainment, few tales are as captivating as that of Critical Role. What started as a group of friends playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) has grown into a multimedia powerhouse, reshaping the landscape of tabletop gaming and storytelling.

For those who don’t know, Critical Role is a popular web series that features a group of talented voice actors playing D&D. The show is primarily known for its engaging storytelling, character development, and the camaraderie of the cast. The cast members, including notable voice actors such as Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, and Laura Bailey, embark on epic adventures in a rich fantasy world created by Mercer, who serves as the Dungeon Master.

Each episode follows the characters as they face challenges, make decisions, and interact with the game world. The show combines elements of improvisational acting, strategic gameplay, and immersive storytelling, creating a unique and entertaining experience for both fans of D&D and newcomers to the game. Critical Role has gained a massive following through its live broadcasts, podcasts, and animated shows, significantly contributing to the growing popularity of tabletop role-playing games in mainstream media.

As Critical Role evolved, so did its business model, offering valuable insights into effective leadership and business growth. Let’s explore three key leadership lessons we can glean from the journey of Critical Role.

Lesson 1: Passion Fuels Innovation

Critical Role’s success story begins with a shared passion for storytelling and gaming. The cast’s genuine love for Dungeons & Dragons not only birthed a unique and engaging form of entertainment but also fueled a relentless pursuit of innovation. From the early days of streaming on Twitch to launching their independent media company, Critical Role Productions, the team’s unwavering passion became the driving force behind their business evolution.

Leadership Takeaway: Leaders should encourage and tap into the passions of their team members. When people are passionate about their work, they are more likely to innovate, collaborate, and invest the extra effort needed for success.

Critical Role have grown to become a multimedia powerhouse

Lesson 2: Community Engagement Builds Loyalty

Critical Role recognized the power of community early on. Through live broadcasts, engaging with fans on social media, and hosting live events, they cultivated a dedicated community. This connection didn’t just enhance their brand; it became the foundation of their success. The Critical Role fanbase not only consumes content but actively contributes to the success of the brand through crowdfunding campaigns, merchandise purchases, and event attendance.

Leadership Takeaway: Building a strong and engaged community is vital for any organization. Leaders should prioritize open communication, actively listen to their audience, and foster a sense of belonging. A loyal community can be a powerful asset in times of growth and change.

Lesson 3: Diversification Mitigates Risks

Critical Role’s evolution as a business includes diversification beyond their core content. In addition to their flagship show, they’ve expanded into podcasting, comic books, a highly successful animated series, and sought after merchandise. This diversification not only broadened their revenue streams but also mitigated risks associated with reliance on a single platform or medium.

Leadership Takeaway: Leaders should embrace strategic diversification to navigate uncertainties. Relying on a single source of revenue or a narrow set of skills can leave a business vulnerable. Diversification not only expands opportunities but also provides a buffer against unexpected challenges.

Final Thoughts on Critical Role

Critical Role’s journey from a home game to a multimedia empire is a testament to the power of passion, community, and strategic leadership. As businesses navigate the ever-changing landscape, the lessons learned from Critical Role’s evolution offer valuable insights. Leaders seeking sustainable growth and innovation, could do worse than learning from this amazing organization.