Many people frequently perceive gameplay as just entertainment rather than an important part of their education or professional achievement. We, on the other hand, are reversing this trend. According to our research, SME leaders can learn a lot about business from video games. You may have heard of Let’s Play Business! Podcast, which aims to assist executives better grasp how to apply lessons they’ve learned from playing games in the past.
Susanna Lawson, CEO and co-founder of OneFile, and 2017 Businesswoman of the Year, Chris Rhodes, were guests on the episode.
In the first four episodes, we’ve covered some of the most important topics:
#1 – Strategic thinking – defend what can be defended, consolidate and build back up
In both Monopoly Deal and chess, players question themselves, what actions can I take now to enhance my present position and what actions would have the most significant impact?? The same is true while operating a company, particularly when faced with many and often-overwhelming obstacles. Instead of doing everything at once, the author suggests narrowing your emphasis to two or three items that will have the most effect.
#2 – Be decisive – avoid ‘analysis paralysis’
If you’re a company owner or a leader, you’ve got access to a lot of information; some of which only you know and can see, some of which everyone else can see, and a few of which no one else can see (e.g., market swings). A common problem in the workplace, known as ‘Analysis Paralysis’, occurs when executives focus on facts and data they can see rather than agonising about the information they cannot see or control.
Leaders should make choices based on what they know rather than waiting for data or insights that they may never get or have access to.
When it comes to being decisive in business, Pac Man can teach you a thing or two. Decisiveness is the only way to avoid death (or the Pac Man ghosts will eat you). As with beginning a company, there is never a moment of rest for players, who must continually judge their next step. No choice will have a significantly greater effect than one rushed through with haste.
#3 – Invest in ongoing learning and development
In World of Warcraft, your character’s advancement is based on completing more difficult tasks, levelling up and acquiring new skills and abilities. With no ongoing improvement of knowledge and skills, you will stagnate and lose ground in the competition. Competing against superior “players” and having the willingness and ability to be knocked down and then back up is crucial in the corporate world. Consider what went wrong, what you can learn from it, and who you can learn from around you.
#4 – Long-term versus short-term planning
The game of chess is all about balancing long-term and short-term objectives. Because there is so much information available to everyone, it is necessary to create assumptions about what your opponent (competitor) will do to stay one step ahead of them. The consequence is that the long-term plan is frequently overlooked in favour of short-term methods. You must be ready to forgo short-term benefits to think long-term and achieve long-term success (for example, pawns).
When it comes to sports and business, the finest athletes can strike the right balance. Understand that even the best-laid plans may go awry due to life’s unexpected twists & turns. For example, a competitor’s surprise manoeuvres might necessitate a shift in a long-term strategy.
#5 – Communication and adapting to fit the audience
Communication is essential in every facet of a company, from enticing consumers to engaging internal stakeholders and staff. The problem is that it’s commonly misunderstood or misread. For example, in the game of charades, if a player can see that their teammates are incorrectly guessing their answers, the best next step is to adjust their communication strategy. On the other hand, some individuals will lose their cool and perform worse instead of improving their performance while under pressure.
This is especially true in business when it comes to presentations when it is essential to maintain focus. On the other hand, Jargon is often misunderstood even though basic signals are. To communicate effectively, whether in business or charades, you must learn to adapt your language to the level of comprehension of the people you’re speaking with. When it comes to presenting and communicating, it’s crucial to focus on your audience and their needs rather than yourself.
#6 – Finding the right people
There is no better approach to identify and employ qualified candidates than Guess Who. With limited time and questions at our disposal, we typically use some of the most imaginative techniques to elicit as much information as possible. Interviews are similar to tests because they require the same amount of preparation. With this in mind, the types of questions you ask must be pertinent to your business’s objectives and ethos, rather than solely skill-based, to find the ideal fit for your organisation.
Because hiring the wrong people may be costly, both in terms of time and money, small businesses must do it right the first time.
