While made more popular in recent years due to its inclusion in online shows (Dimension 20 and Critical Role) as well as the show Stranger Things, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is considered a very nerdy pasttime.
Whether you consider it cool or uncool, you could learn about being a teammate or leader through playing or running D&D.
D&D helps you step back and trust the experts
Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different skillsets. In D&D, your character is generally only good at a few key things. If you are a fighter, you might be good in battle, but the player who is representing a sneaky rogue will be better at quietly getting information or infiltrating a lair.
When talking to your team and solving problems, you will learn to step in when you are needed and step back when you are not.
At the office, remember that different people have different skills. Know when to trust the expert, when to step in yourself, and when to simply provide “guidance.” 🙂
D&D inspires creative problem solving
On the note of solving problems with teammates, you will be amazed at the wacky and creative solutions players have to problems presented, whether you are the Dungeon Master (DM) creating the challenges or one of the other players.
Let this be a lesson to you.
The best answer to a question or solution to a problem at work might not be the one in your head! This is why you create a team of people, to solve problems in creative but effective ways! You will be amazed what your team delivers.
D&D encourages active listening and note taking
If you see a circle of people actively scribbling in notebooks, you might be watching a session of D&D!
If you don’t listen to what your DM or teammates are saying, you will miss important details or might not understand what happens later.
Take this practice to your meetings! Take and share notes with others!
D&D fosters expectation setting and alignment
While D&D has a literal alignment system for determining how good or evil a character is, running a campaign for D&D helps to foster expectation setting and alignment with a group of people.
Through running a session zero to see what everyone finds fun, scheduling sessions, and consistently checking in, you arrive at a group alignment on what your games will look like.
Try something similar with your team! Ensure you check in with your team and make sure everyone has a chance to provide feedback on a plan where applicable.