Player Associations Archive

Awesome posts all around!! I loved reading it all... I'm sure I might be repeating some of what has been already posted but I'd like to present this with my own personal flavor... *grin* Here goes...

Guild Leaders are...

VISIONARIES
It's easy to get a group together and start a "guild" but without a clear vision and direction, eventually this group will wander aimlessly and eventually dissolve.A guild leader has a vision on where the guild is headed. This goal may change or evolve through time, but it is the responsibility of aleader to provide direction.

MOTIVATORS
Oftentimes we hit a wall, or stumbling blocks and get discouraged sometimes to the point of quitting. Sometimes a project isn't going as planned or a raid goes awry. A guild leader is one that provides motivation and encouragement to get everyone back on their feet. They get "down and dirty" in the trenches with everyone and helps get the job done.A times givinga gentle nudge or a pat in the back or some words of praise.

MEDIATORS
Conflicts happen... any guild leader here knows that, whether it be between guild members, or betwen other guilds, or even between the general public. Almost always, guild leaders are called upon to "take care of your member" or "help us, we're being griefed", etc. The guild leader(s) almost always serve as an intermediary between the two parties in order to resolve disputes.

COUNSELORS
Surprisingly, and I say that because I thinking on my personal experiences, members will turn to their guild leaders to seek out their counsel or maybe even just be a sounding block when they're going through a rough time, whether it be in-game or in RL. Guild leaders automatically become the "arm to lean on", the "shoulder to cry on", the "ear" you spill out all your griefs and problems. *smile* I consider this as one of the greatest honors of being a guild leader, to be someone people trust and confide in.

COORDINATORS
Almost always, the biggest complaint that someone leaving a guild is that "they never do anything". *chuckle* It is part of the guild leader's responsibility to make sure "things are happening". From planning guild hunts, PvP raid, celebration parties, intra-guild events, etc., the guild leader's plate is always full. Like Jas said, we immediately learn the art of "delegation"... without it, can you spell "B U R N O U T"?

AMBASSADORS
Guild leaders are always "in the public eye". Whenever/whatever/whichever things your guild does, be sure that it reflects back to the guild leader, AND vice versa. The guild leader goes out and forms alliances with other guilds, or during war, would often be the emissary to seek a peace treaty. In official or "state" functions, the guild leader is the automatic representative of the guild.

Last but not the least... my favorite one is that guild leaders are looked upon to as...

A FRIEND
Let's face it... most guilds often start out as groups of friends that game together and enjoy having fun with each other. If you didn't start out as friends, most definitely after a while you will be...

I always hold to the belief that the secret to being a successful leader is to have a great guild, and the secret of having a great guild is to have AWESOME MEMBERS... *smile* With the Hooded Nomads,I've always considered it an honor and a privilege to lead such a diverse, dynamic, and outstanding group of individuals!! Don't get me wrong, like everyone we're not "perfect". We all have our own little quirks and nuances. However the "gel"ing of everyone's personality and cooperative spirit is what makes each of our guilds unique and special.

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p.s. thank goodness for the edit button...

Message Edited by Ynnos on 02-11-2004 03:34 PM

Nice posts here!

I don't consider myself to be the guild's "leader", per se. They're my online family, and I do what I can to take care of them and contribute towards the family's overall well-being.

To borrow from Dennis Leary (I think), I'm not a leader. I just do what I think is right. Sometimes people follow me.

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NomOrion wrote:

My low point was kicking a member of whom I had great respect but his political goals got mixed up with personal vendettas. And he put the our guild at risk of being labeled as traitors. Even though the decision was a no brainer I did not enjoy it.

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Thats one of the down parts of leadership Nomorion, the necessity of sacrifice to benefit the organization. It's a sad fact that we swing a double-edged sword but thats part of the strength that a leader shows. One category that alot of Guild Leaders fill is that of Judge and in larger guilds it can be quite a task with so many personalities involved.

Jas found sisterhood through the semblance of a mainly femme PA, in my experience I found the same comradery through combat oriented guildship. The strength in arms and the lead by example mettle of a warlord type PA leader can bring about a strange type of kinship that one would think wouldn't occur.The main issue is the common goal aspect, and the willingness of the membership to achieve and hold it. Once locked into a mode of helping one another and achieving that goal it makes the leader's job easier. Kudos to you all, this has been a pleasant read.

The number one reason that many do not want to be in this position.

I have only had to remove one person from our guild and it was not pleasant.

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EcadMistflier wrote:

The guild leader is no king or queen. They are the ones who must find a way to keep communication open, provide a ear to hear and mediate complaints and problemsfairly, justly.They must be able to communicate the vision and goals of the guild and provide positive avenues for the individual members growth for themselves and the guild's sake.

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Here I must disagree. Every guild is founded on different principles and ideas. What if the idea of one guild is to be a monarchy, with the guild leader the king, and a everyone is under them. Then it would be right for the leader to be a king. My PA is a military PA. I am it's leader. While I do agree that I should be fair to the people (as they are trying to have fun as well) I am the leader and they follow me.

To me,a leader is someone that takes charge when no one else does. Someone that can organize the chaotic mob of players and give them a direction, a purpose. Once he has done that, his people will want to follow him. It isn't about what type of leader you are, but how you lead.

Fantastic posts! Well written, tought out and more importantly USEFUL! I would have nothing more to contribute to whats already been said.

It's nice to read this type of stuff. Sometimes I feel a bit lonely at the top.

For me, lately, being a GM has been more diplomacy and arbitration than anything else. I'm a communications conduit. It's my job to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Values, expectations, leadership by example - all of these things are what I do daily. And I'm the arbitrator. In a guild of 185 people, there are going to be disputes, and sometimes its not a good idea to discuss those things in committee.

And like Jas said - there are many times whenI just get so tired that I want to shut everything off. I even gave my character in game gray hair and some worry lines.

So why do I keep doing it?

Well, there are a lot of reasons, but the two most prominent in my mind are: I've put too much damn work into this group for it to fail; and there are 185 members of TMB who count on me for leadership, direction, friendship and maturity. I can't let them down.

At the end of the day, much of my fun comes from knowing that I've made an indelible mark on my server and on the fun that many folks in my organization have had. It's that type of thing that keeps me going.

B

Geo,

Sounds like your PA needs a revamp, not the system.

B