Player Associations Archive
Thread: Dictatorship vs Democracy?
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DathoImilli
Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:47 am
#1
Our original leader had to leave the game. We went through the headache of the leadership change and now I am the leader. Our original leader was great and she seemed to keep all of us inline. I don't know if it was more that we kept ourselves inline or that seh was doing it. Since her absence and before we got an actual leader again the guild was growing very fast.
Now I am presented with the matter of leading the guild. I have been made aware of various problems that some of our members have with the guild. I want the guild to be a fun place for all involved but they don't all want the same thing.
Now here is my question. Do I just go ahead and do what I think needs to be done or do I sit around on my hands and try to get the guild to vote on stuff?
My real dilema in this is that we will lose some of our members either because they dont like where the guild is going, because it is going too slowor just because I remove them myself. If it needs to be done I don't have a problem with doing it for the good of the guild. Well, at least what I think is the good of the guild. I intend to set up a steering comittee and communication chains and various things, but we are having minro explosive problems on a weekly basis right now, and it needs to be fixed.
I'm just wondering if anyone has an opnion one way or another on what the balance between dictatorship and democracy a guild should be?
OdeiIsnish
Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:36 pm
#2
i'm no pa leader, but i can tell you one thing, if you want speed, democracy isn't going to get done fast
LexxYovel
Wed Jun 16, 2004 12:08 am
#3
Heya Datho. I can tell you about some of that. My guild is a monarchy. There is no senate or votes for events (Unless I am out of ideas and leave it up to the guild) In my opinion, a democracy is too hard to run. There will be definitly be dissagreements, and whatever you feel is right for your own guild may not always happen. Even if it is a dictatorship, it is possible to be fair. Just do whats right for the guild. And one other warning, you may be overwhelmed if its a dictatorship. What I do is I establish several good members to be leaders of divisions. This makes your job easier as you make all the important decisions, while the division leaders participate in recruiting, and starting small events. What I found frusterating about a democracy was when one time I asked a guild to help our guild in a fight. They said they would contact the war senate about it, I never got their help, even though the leader wanted to in the end.
Hope that helps
Lexx
ArythBandar
Wed Jun 16, 2004 2:47 am
#4
I'm not a guild leader, but I'm a memeber of the best guilds on the Corbantis server (go Souls! 
). Now, with that out of the way, let me say this: Your idea of placing things to vote is a good idea. Send out the mass email for each topic you want voted and add to the emails that if no vote is cast for said topic then it will be up to you to decide. Though, to make sure you get everyone you may need to give it a week or so. They elected you leader for a reason. If they don't like your descisions, they can elect someone else, or quite (and don't worry about quitters there are a slew of other ppl who maybe interested in joining your guild if properly tempted).
). Now, with that out of the way, let me say this: Your idea of placing things to vote is a good idea. Send out the mass email for each topic you want voted and add to the emails that if no vote is cast for said topic then it will be up to you to decide. Though, to make sure you get everyone you may need to give it a week or so. They elected you leader for a reason. If they don't like your descisions, they can elect someone else, or quite (and don't worry about quitters there are a slew of other ppl who maybe interested in joining your guild if properly tempted).Message Edited by ArythBandar on 06-16-2004 05:48 AM
AtraJedi
Wed Jun 16, 2004 5:35 am
#5
I'm a guild leader and I would advise a mix of both dictatorship and democracy. If you relied compeltely on a voting system things will move slow and players will lose interest. Most players are prolly in your guild to play and have fun with a group so I don't think people would have any problems you making decisions about the overall direction of the guild. However, you also want players to feel that they contribute to the guild. So perhaps on issues that are more fun and less significant can be voted on if not urgent.
To me the whole purpose of a guild is to enhance a players gaming experience on SWG. So every decision I make is based with that in mind. I segment players into three types including Entertainer, Crafter and Combatant and create an environment for each player type to participate. So decisions concerning the environment you create can just be you alone and without vote. But other smaller decisions can be left to a vote.
snurckle
Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:38 am
#6
LOL- too funny. Nevermind where all the drama comes from, it's just a matter of kicking anybody out that doesn't agree with you.
William_Evans wrote:
We have a guild leader but that is for the books only (guild hall ownership) We have a High council of three of us. Our original leader lead it as one high general and 2-3 generals and ranks and such. We found that by simply running the guild as fair as possible and having a firm hand on the trouble makers we have been able to clean up a debunked guild (long dramatic story here) to a guild that has respect for the leadership and no /gu fights. We have events/hunts there is no pressure to attend our guild has many people from all over the worls and getting them all together in one place to vote on things id just to hard on the guild so Us high council make the disicions in private then we put the policy into play. If our decicion causes to many problems we sit down againa d rework it till it does work. Now that we have the respect of the members, making flat decisions is easy and 99.8% of the time excepted by the guild. Basicaly High council thinks while the members play the game its a great arraingement. If an individual gets out of line we ask then nicely to shape up or ship out. If they go rogue on us its asta la bye bye.
We have a moto in our guild since the "drama" we had plagued our guild for about 2 months LEAD, FOLLOW, or **edit**
We are a guild of good friends as a result.
William_Evans
Wed Jun 16, 2004 12:53 pm
#7
We have a guild leader but that is for the books only (guild hall ownership) We have a High council of three of us. Our original leader lead it as one high general and 2-3 generals and ranks and such. We found that by simply running the guild as fair as possible and having a firm hand on the trouble makers we have been able to clean up a debunked guild (long dramatic story here) to a guild that has respect for the leadership and no /gu fights. We have events/hunts there is no pressure to attend our guild has many people from all over the worls and getting them all together in one place to vote on things id just to hard on the guild so Us high council make the disicions in private then we put the policy into play. If our decicion causes to many problems we sit down againa d rework it till it does work. Now that we have the respect of the members, making flat decisions is easy and 99.8% of the time excepted by the guild. Basicaly High council thinks while the members play the game its a great arraingement. If an individual gets out of line we ask then nicely to shape up or ship out. If they go rogue on us its asta la bye bye.
We have a moto in our guild since the "drama" we had plagued our guild for about 2 months LEAD, FOLLOW, or **edit**
We are a guild of good friends as a result.
William_Evans
Wed Jun 16, 2004 4:34 pm
#8
You will respect our authori-Tie!
Message Edited by William_Evans on 06-18-2004 09:17 AM
Eniako
Fri Jun 18, 2004 12:14 am
#9
As an Officer in my guild a lot of what we do is a combination of both. If these decision is to have a large impact on the majority of the members (creating a player city for example) we will bring it up for a vote. If it is a minor change we decide amongst ourselves (the officers) and just do it. Then if a member has a problem, assuming they even noticed, we deal with that on a 1 to1 basis.
Jitryd
Wed Jun 30, 2004 2:04 pm
#11
The word for the compromise between the two is 'consensus'
I am the PA leader for our group.
The PA is set up similar to a company. We have a CEO, a Vice President, and a Board of directors. We made a company charter that explains the rules and how things work. My job is to make sure things run according to the rules. My VP holds down the fort in the event something needs to happen and I'm not around. New members and rule changes are voted on by the board.
The system makes sure that people have an opportunity to provide their opinion and influence how things are run, but things get run on a timetable. The rules that are published to each member are clear and they appreciate knowing how things operate and what to expect. Since the start of PA's we've only had one member leave, and she came back to us 3 months later after experiencing other opportunities.
Hope this helps. I'd be happy to discuss it further with anyone offline. I'd even be willing to share our charter and structure if anyone would find it valuable.
bradimere
Sat Jul 03, 2004 7:59 am
#12
Dictatorship!
with lower ranking officers, then the grunts/yes sir's
Our guild (in many games) we are a family guild, no manditory raiding, we dont force anythign upon anyone. needless to say thos players thta like a fast pace and wan tend game never stay in our guild. But if they liek a easy pace and freedom, then they stay.
The Dictatorship is for guild direction and final judgement(if it comes to that). But also we encourage ALL members to specialize in 1 area of interest (to the player), and try and get that individual to lead the area he has specialty in.
As a Guild leader, plan on NEVER really enjoying free time. for all problems get pushed to you. and for orgainization during a event, plane on NOT fighting. you are the General, and MUST lead the troops in the fight, and tell who to do what.
Bountyholder
Sat Jul 03, 2004 7:18 pm
#13
Im not a guild leader but I have lead many times...I own my own business for one thing and here is what I have found to be most successful.
1. Assigning
Many times (depending on size) ur group will have many different people with many different talents for example if u see that one person is extremely good in PvP then let him lead the raids or ifu see someone that is always looking for the guild to do together make him in charge of events. This way u dont have to carry the responsiblity of leading the guild all on ur own the best way to accomplish goals is to only think about that one goal...let one of ur guildys take some of the weight and if they dont do a good job kick them out of their position and try someone new...it isnt like firing someone (remember it is STILL just a game)
2. Leadership
The best way to show leadership is not be afraid to help out. For example as owner of my business (and with help fromthe assigning section) I could sit back and do NOTHING but still make money...dont hesitiate to be one of the boys with ur guild,organize Kyrats hunts,do something and have fun be one of the guys who isnt stuck doin all the work like being a diplomat to other guilds or forming events (look back at assigning).
3. Respect
Know your guildys or if u have a HUGE guild get officers (guys u assign tasks too) to be able to relate to at least one of ur guild mates...have a friendship with them and in time u will earn their respect.
There that is what I would do lol but u can do with it as u want and lol no I didnt get this out of a self help book
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