How Gaming Can Help Develop Leadership Skills

min read
A man in a yellow sweater, holding a console remote and wearing a gaming headset with a microphone.
BetMGM Aug 29, 2023, 1:32 PM

Believe it or not, gaming can help improve leadership skills. What you learn from the screen, you can bring with you to everyday life scenarios. The rise of the internet had a massive impact on the gaming industry by making it easier to play games online solo and with others in multiplayer scenarios. Players can play online casino games and video games at work or from the comfort and security of their homes.

Leaders have been an asset to society since the beginning of time. For the past couple of decades, the need for leaders in the workplace has grown. The role of leaders is to work with their teams to accomplish their goals. The use of leadership development games has also grown in popularity. They train and develop all the skills necessary for becoming a better leader. With the evolution of technology and the internet, leadership games are more accessible, with plentiful options. 

Skills You Can Develop While Gaming

To be a good leader, you need to have the right skill sets on top of being an influential person who can lead your team. Games and leadership go hand-in-hand. The impact of gaming helps players, providing stress relief and improved cognitive skills, among other things. When balancing work, gaming, socializing and a healthy lifestyle, leaders are more well-rounded individuals.

Here are a few leadership skill sets that can be improved when playing games.

Teamwork

Multiplayer games are the perfect option for leaders to play with their teammates. The team can easily connect their devices and have constructive conversations as they work through the games together. With many games, leaders can delegate tasks to the team to better reach their goals. Gaming is also a great way to improve problem-solving skills that the team can bring into the workplace. These games can also help build empathy and foster conflict resolution skills that may come up when working together. 

Decision-Making Skills

Leaders need to be easily adaptable and able to handle stress constructively. Both of these abilities can assist them in making better decisions. Games can help build this skill, teaching you to make quick and effective decisions. Good decision-making skills are necessary when under pressure and effortlessly pulling through difficult situations. The need to make time-sensitive decisions often comes up in the workplace and games teach you how to think on your feet. 

Leaders must be empathetic when making decisions, as those decisions can impact the team. A good way to learn empathy is through failure — knowing how it feels to get something wrong will help deal with staff members who may have made errors in judgment. Since games provide repeated exposure to loss and failure on a manageable scale, they can be a useful training ground for teaching resilience. Also, failure and making mistakes are good ways to learn lessons — hopefully won’t repeat the same mistakes. 

Communication Skills

To be a good leader, what you communicate and how you share that message with your team is very important. Leaders need to inspire by using their words and actions correctly to be taken seriously. Leadership training games are necessary as they help you build on these skills to work well with your team. Good communication skills allow you to empathize and help resolve any conflict your team may be experiencing. Teammates will then learn to trust you and feel more comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas. 

Strategic Thinking Skills

Strategic thinking skills are required in leadership to help the team plan and reach goals. Good strategic thinking skills improve the ability to assess risks and manage teams and projects. Team-building games are also great as you can practice delegating tasks based on the team’s skill set. Puzzle games help improve memory and cognitive thinking. Classic games like sudoku, crosswords and trivia games are all available online for teammates to play together. 

Online card games are also known to improve cognitive functioning. Poker and blackjack are two examples of card games you can play online to help develop your strategic thinking skills. 

More Tips for Building Leadership Skills

While leadership games can help you improve your leadership skills, many other resources can also help you become a better leader. Here are a few extra tips for developing leadership skills.

Reading Books

Libraries and bookshops are full of motivational books that are perfect for leaders. Reading, in general, also allows you to step inside the mind of others, which improves the ability to empathize, a necessary trait for leaders. One such book recommendation is “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown. 

Attend Webinars

Webinars provide tips and tricks for improving your leadership skills. They are interactive and allow you to ask the host any questions. Be sure to look out for any seminars or workshops to attend in your area. They are a great way to socialize and network with other like-minded leaders. 

Watch YouTube Videos and Listen to Podcasts

Like books, YouTube and podcast platforms are full of content ideal for leaders. Both are easily accessible and perfect to listen to while commuting, at work and during mundane chores at home. Pick the channels that align with your values and listen to the creator’s insights that may be helpful to you. 

Use BetMGM To Improve Your Leadership Skills

Register with BetMGM to improve your strategic thinking and decision-making skills by playing games like poker, blackjack and baccarat. Or you could try your hand at online slots and participating in tournaments. There’s also a range of other gaming options, including live dealer table games and sports betting. Take your leadership skills up a level and join in today.

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Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.