Exclusive to Galactic Holofeed Channel Zeta OMicron Gamma 111, Major Snarl is online with Command Decisions, a weekly column that every Sunday looks at guild management, and the perils and rewards within.

We join the transmission, already in progress…

Welcome back, TORWarriors! I trust you enjoyed the refreshments in the Mess Hall. The Calamarian Diablo Crunchers are particularly good. The Admiral asked that I reassure you no sentients were harmed in the making of the treats! Before we took a break, I lined out common misconceptions as to why leaders choose to do what they do. I trust those myths were laid to rest satisfactorily. I then posed a question: Why lead?

Let’s look at a few reasons you might accept the position.

The meeting was going well; though Leia kept a straight face, secretly she was elated that her years of intense Spyrograph training had paid off.

It was your idea to create the guild. The game dictates that one person have the Guild Master rank. Beyond game mechanics though, there has to be someone who provides direction. Maybe you were the one who said, “We should create a guild,” or were really enthusiastic when someone brought up the notion and everyone agreed you should be the leader. You could’ve let someone else take the reins, but you chose to do it. Congratulations, gentlebeing; welcome to a rarefied group.

There was an opening in the leadership structure. As much as we enjoy the Star Wars universe, there’s a very real world out there and it can very much impact our participation in the game. Life changes–personal or professional–can cause an officer or guild master to step down or worse, fade away. A guild, like any organization or community, needs to have direction and purpose or it will wither and die. Someone stepped down and you decided to step up. Again, kudos.

You had an idea to improve the guild. Some eight years ago, when my wife and I first joined the World of Warcraft chapter of our guild, we noticed some things that didn’t seem right. We brought our concerns to the leadership, and they agreed to a meeting. They listened to our concerns, asked questions, and gave answers. As it wound down, they asked, “How would you like to be officers?” We were stunned–that hadn’t been our goal at all since we were just new members–but we knew that it wasn’t just enough to have the ideas for a better community, we had to be willing to actually do the work. So with not a little bit of trepidation, we waded in. Overall, we are certainly the better for it.

You offered a service to the guild. Offering to host your guild’s website, forums or VoIP communications system (Teamspeak, Ventrilo, or Mumble) or even offering to monitor forums is a surefire way to put you on the officers’ radar. That may not be what gets you the leadership position, but it’s a definite point in your favor; it’s a sign of initiative and that you understand about giving back to the community.

These are but a few examples; I’m sure you sentients are capable of coming up with more. The common thread is that they stem from having an attitude of service to your community. It’s not because you have to; no one’s (probably) pointing a blaster to your head. Ultimately, you take up a leader’s mantle because you feel it’s the right thing to do, and are willing to do the work required to provide, maintain and improve your surroundings. It’s a selfless gesture, and I salute you all.

Next up: Some of the rewards from leading.

Semper Havoc!

Your feedback is welcome and encouraged. If you have a comment about this or any other Command Decisions article, or have a question about guild management for Major Snarl, send it to majorsnarl [at] gmail [dot] com or even better–please post it in the comments section below!