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Session Name:

Supporting the Party: Five Ways to Help Others Move Forward

Overview:

Most leaders in game development were promoted into "leadership" but rewarded for managing systems and tools. We then collapse "leader," "manager," "people manager," "coach," and "mentor" into one fuzzy blob and default to whatever is most comfortable. Usually that's directing or fast advice. The result is overmanaged, under-led teams and people who never develop the autonomy we say we want.This talk defines three roles leaders actually play - Leader, Manager, People Manager - and five skills we use to develop others - Directing, Teaching, Advising, Mentoring, Coaching. You'll see when each is appropriate, where most leaders get stuck, and how to choose your stance intentionally based on urgency, risk, context, and the other person's needs. We'll walk through concrete stories from AAA production and real-time roleplays based on audience questions, so you can walk back into your studio with a practical, usable toolkit instead of more leadership buzzwords.

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