Things to Consider on being an Officer:  

Leaders in WoW only have the basic communication of text and sometimes voice interaction with their members. What they say in text does not carry a true tone and so it must be considered carefully on the notion that every word will bring with it an inflection of the readers make. Saying things such as “get over here” become a command whereas in real life the inflection could have been used to make it playful. We do not have that luxury and must maintain a conscious awareness that what is typed will most likely be perceived by three people in three different ways.

An open communication style between Officers is exceedingly important as well. Daily contact with one another will help ensure that you’re all on the same page about member issues, personal problems, guild progress, and the intrinsic nature of guild dynamics. It is madness to assume one Officer alone will be in all places to take care of all things; it simply cannot be done. Therefore multiple perceptions are needed to maintain the delicate balance between what you see and what you have overlooked. Officers are, for all intents and purposes, the Guild Masters most valuable eyes, ears, and watchdogs all rolled into one.

Commitment is another huge thing to consider. Running a guild, even a fairly small one, takes time, patience, and effort. If you add in 150 other people to manage, it can become overwhelming very quickly. Officers need to understand that their job is structural – they are the metal beams on which the rest of the guild builds from. If the guild were a high-rise building the GM would be the concrete foundation, the Officers a steel infrastructure, and the members the walls, rooms, and furnishings. Together it is a masterpiece of architecture, but one piece alone is simply the equivalent of raw material; useless without one another.

Guilds demand time and countless amounts of it. Officers need to be prepared for the fact that just about every moment of their time on-line is “guild time.” Even if they are playing alts they should be reachable in case of a guild emergency or outbreak of violence between members. Most of the time there is no need for an Officer to be on-line at all times, members are fairly well-behaved and generally courteous. However, it is inevitable that there will be disputes and it is an Officers duty to stop what they are doing to handle it as necessary.

Officers also need to be aware of the fact that due to their elevated position, their actions will be seen as paramount to guild overall attitude. There could be times when an Officer who is late to a raid is told there is no available space. They are affable and understanding, therefore affirming the fact that being late will lose anyone their raid spot. When a certain item of gear drops that an Officer could use, but chooses to pass to another member, it enforces reciprocal give-and-take for the betterment of all involved.

If an Officer handles a situation badly and later makes a public apology to the member they have offended, it proves that they think about their personal actions and seek to rectify any wrongs committed. Members see these examples and will begin to understand and to incorporate them into their own personal interactions and ideals – again, building on the principal that Officers are the example by which the guild lives.

It is very important to realize that Officers are people too. They will make mistakes and fail from time to time. They are presumed to have their own lives to lead and their own goals to accomplish outside of the game. This is simply the way life goes and the learning curve is the same across all boards: we learn as we accomplish and as we fail alike.

In times of stress or indecision, often the outcome is less favorable then you would like.  The truth of the matter is this: Learn from your mistakes and allow other peoples advice to help achieve the desired result. This goes for personal interactions with members as well as leadership of raids. Obviously if a strategy is not accomplishing the desired effect it is a good idea to take a step back and ask people “What do you think? What do you see? How can we get past this?” Admitting you are wrong is not a weakness if you overcome it and strengthen your character and resolve. Giving people their dues when things they suggest pan out is a wonderful way to encourage group participation.

The hallmark of a good raid leader is that they can take a realistic look at what the raid is doing or accomplishing together, and then tailor any strategy to fit that group of people’s skills and strengths. If not every Officer is a raid leader then they should still have the ability to solve problems in this way. Finding ways in which to utilize their skills and personal interactions to settle disputes is key. An Officer must be an effective negotiator. They need the ability to step back, figure out what the situation truly is based on both sides of the argument, and come up with viable options that can satisfy both parties. Of course this not always possible and again, discretion and judgment will be main factors.

Continued...