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Digg it UP - Games Managers Should Play
The New Year is now in full swing. Is a new job on your list of resolutions? Have you given any thought to your job search? What do you need to do to prepare for an effective job search? What type of position is on the next rung of your career ladder? Do you know what qualifications will be expected in most cases for the job? First of all, you need to know exactly what you are looking for in a job. Next you will want to review the qualifications for the job and make a list of your own qualifications. Do you have what it takes? Most important, what have you accomplished for your present and past employers that will impress a potential new employer? Keep this list handy because it
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different
May be, but it won't be evident in the next decade at least! As people say everything starts as a small spring. Maybe the downfall is imperceptible... But it is high time they start re-inventing themselves.An interesting lesson from "Paranoid Survive"... from which we can understand that there is a shift in the computer industry, Software is becoming a commodity. The fact is, the number of customers realizing that are on the rise. Customers now tend to pay for the service offered by the company, and not the software. This pardigm shift, could be hard to digest for B'Gates. Because they are no where in the services domain... as an outsider of microsoft, this is my perception...<
Imagine you are screening candidates for a senior executive position. The job demands strategic thinking abilities and complex decision-making skills. You've narrowed the search down to 3 candidates, all of whom have impressive educational background, relevant experience and the right personality for the job. You take another look at their resumes and notice an interesting fact about one of the prospective managers - apparently her hobby is playing various board games including Chess, Bridge, and Go (an ancient and complex Japanese game). Will this fact affect who you ultimately choose for the position of manager?
Apparently, characteristics and skills that are required for playing board games are especially relevant for managers of all levels. Quite a few senior managers say that the skills and habits they acquired in playing games give them an extra edge in business and in management. This includes handling fast changes, taking calculated risks, self-discipline, improved memory, “coolness” under pressure, and determination to carry-through the right strategy - even if it leads to short-term loss.
According to different managers, each game has a distinct focus on skills that stem from the nature of the game. Thus, for instance, Backgammon increases the ability to quickly and intuitively calculate odds and risks in situations of uncertainty; The game of cards - Bridge - develops social interaction and communication based on partial information; Chess requires strategic thinking and system vision, as well as experience in exploiting tactical patterns and opportunities.
The skills needed for playing games are not only cognitive. The basic setting of games requires the ability to operate while involved in intense competitive social interaction, with alternating moments of cooperation and confrontation. Obviously, similar skills are needed in the daily functions of people in general and of managers in particular. Improving these skills is a great part of the learning and training managers need to undertake.
Managers Play to Train and Learn
With the abovementioned similarity of the skills required in board games and those required of managers, it is almost natural that board games have indeed become a powerful management training tool. The subjects that may be addressed with this type of learning are diverse, and include effective decision-making, problem-solving techniques, development of creative thinking, improved personal communication, synergetic teamwork, work under pressure, and more.
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different
Accepting contract work is an option that some job searchers look at not only when they are having trouble finding fulltime work but because of the lucrative nature of contract assignments.Typically, contract work can run anywhere from around 1 month to 12 months in length and sometimes, even longer than that.Depending on the industry and job, contracts might differ in length but as a recruiter, this is the typical range that I tend to see available.Depending on the specific situation, here are some possible benefits of contract work:1. MoneyContractors typically get paid on an hourly basis for actual hours worked with no benefits or holidays paid
Apparently, characteristics and skills that are required for playing board games are especially relevant for managers of all levels. Quite a few senior managers say that the skills and habits they acquired in playing games give them an extra edge in business and in management. This includes handling fast changes, taking calculated risks, self-discipline, improved memory, “coolness” under pressure, and determination to carry-through the right strategy - even if it leads to short-term loss.
According to different managers, each game has a distinct focus on skills that stem from the nature of the game. Thus, for instance, Backgammon increases the ability to quickly and intuitively calculate odds and risks in situations of uncertainty; The game of cards - Bridge - develops social interaction and communication based on partial information; Chess requires strategic thinking and system vision, as well as experience in exploiting tactical patterns and opportunities.
The skills needed for playing games are not only cognitive. The basic setting of games requires the ability to operate while involved in intense competitive social interaction, with alternating moments of cooperation and confrontation. Obviously, similar skills are needed in the daily functions of people in general and of managers in particular. Improving these skills is a great part of the learning and training managers need to undertake.
Managers Play to Train and Learn
With the abovementioned similarity of the skills required in board games and those required of managers, it is almost natural that board games have indeed become a powerful management training tool. The subjects that may be addressed with this type of learning are diverse, and include effective decision-making, problem-solving techniques, development of creative thinking, improved personal communication, synergetic teamwork, work under pressure, and more.
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different
We all know how important a logo is for an organization. Starting from the stationery, accessories to large billboards, a company logo finds place in almost everything that belongs to the company. Wrong placement of a logo can easily demean the very essence of it and that’s why, placement of a logo at the right place is critical. While there is no pre-determined perfect place for a logo to be positioned, the thumb rule is, irrespective of its color or size; a logo should be put at a place where it gets the maximum exposure.So, how do we go about it? There are no fixed rules for placing a logo. So before positioning a logo on a product, we need to answer three simple questions:<
The skills needed for playing games are not only cognitive. The basic setting of games requires the ability to operate while involved in intense competitive social interaction, with alternating moments of cooperation and confrontation. Obviously, similar skills are needed in the daily functions of people in general and of managers in particular. Improving these skills is a great part of the learning and training managers need to undertake.
Managers Play to Train and Learn
With the abovementioned similarity of the skills required in board games and those required of managers, it is almost natural that board games have indeed become a powerful management training tool. The subjects that may be addressed with this type of learning are diverse, and include effective decision-making, problem-solving techniques, development of creative thinking, improved personal communication, synergetic teamwork, work under pressure, and more.
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different
In real battle between two countries, the winner mobilizes more energy, troops, arteries, vehicles to calculated locations and forges them against the rival army in a technique to combat them at their weakest territories.Now I wish to explain the word strategy, the ‘war management technique’ with another example.Karate Vs Sumo: Learn another war management technique!Karate:He is an active teenage boy, tall and lean in structure. He wanted to learn a matching martial art of his choice. He went to a school of Karate and learnt the art of fighting in its unique style and manner. He is happy that the martial art is suitable to his body structur
Managers Play to Train and Learn
With the abovementioned similarity of the skills required in board games and those required of managers, it is almost natural that board games have indeed become a powerful management training tool. The subjects that may be addressed with this type of learning are diverse, and include effective decision-making, problem-solving techniques, development of creative thinking, improved personal communication, synergetic teamwork, work under pressure, and more.
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different
If you hire staff, you know how difficult it is to know from a resume and interview who is the best person for the job. It’s easy enough to establish credentials and even identify “hard” skills (such as keyboarding speed, mechanical skills etc).However, measuring the “soft” skills (communication skills, attitude and other personal qualities) is much harder.These skills are easily identifiable from writing, and as a Handwriting Analyst I help employers “read” the writing of their job applicants.Below is one list of soft skills, or personal qualities, much in demand with employers and how to identify them from handwriting.The brief descriptions include only the
Games such as Chess, Go and Bridge usually require more than a basic understanding and quite a long period of learning in order to reach a level that enables significant practical management learning. However, there is a large number of games with simpler rules, that may be understood in minutes, and can still be used as powerful learning tools. Examples of such games are included in the second part of this article.
Using this unconventional method of management training carries several advantages:
A. Exposing Patterns of Thinking and Action
As managers play different board games, their patterns of thinking and action, as well as the results of those actions, are brought to the surface. This makes it possible to analyze these habits and point out group tendencies as well. Thus, for instance, a tendency to make decisions based on partial information and without dialogue may lead to grave result in the game, teaching the manager that he needs to improve his communication skills in the game and in life.
B. Real-time Feedback
The link between action and its results in games is almost instant. This makes it possible to examine in real-time the results of using thinking tools and structured patterns of action and behavior, A team that has to solve a game problem quickly and effectively, can learn to use problem-solving techniques and see their immediate effect. In addition, team members may evaluate the personal qualities each of them brings into problem-solving situations, and train in using those abilities in game and life processes.
C. Personal, Team & Group Learning
Training managers through board games simultaneously works on personal skills, small team and large group interaction. Game situations may be planned and built so that learning is focused on personal learning (even through one-on-one coaching), team interaction (two pairs playing against one another, and required to make unanimous decisions), or group aspects (presenting a game position on a screen and holding a discussion on the recommended course of action). This kind of flexibility lets us achieve a variety of learning goals on all levels.
D. Powerful Emotional Learning
Most of the subjects learned through board can certainly be presented in other, more conventional, ways. An added advantage of using board games is the strong emotional involvement of the participants. The cognitive challenges, the state of competition, the hands-on approach all contribute to greater awareness, openness to change and to fun and interest in the learning process.
Plato summarized these principles of learning in the following quote:
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play
than in a year of conversation”
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