Be A Gamer - It's Good For Your Career!?

I think I've just heard that IBM research says that "online videogames can help you become a better corporate leader..."

Here's the press release titled, "IBM Study Says Gaming Is Good for Your Career".

Attention gamers: Want to get ahead in your career? According to new IBM research (NYSE: IBM), online videogames can help you become a better corporate leader by fostering skills related to collaboration, self-organization, risk-taking, openness, influence, and communications. These competencies are increasingly being sought by businesses as they compete in the global economy.

I did a little more research on this topic and found a great article in Businessweek by Aili McConnon titled, "IBM's Management Games".

We'll, for you skeptics out there, what I'm reading is actually true. And, IBM is taking this concept very serious. The've committed quite a bit of dollars, time, energy, and resources toward this new idea. Disclaimer: If you're idea of "online video games" is playing Ms. Pacman or Galaga on your PC then you've got a lot of learning to do.

Check out these quotes from the article...

The IBM researchers found that those who are deeply immersed in online worlds that link millions of players, such as World of Warcraft, were ideally suited to manage in the new millennium. They were particularly savvy at gathering information from far-flung sources, determining strategic risks, failing fast, and moving on to the next challenge quickly. "If you want to see what business leadership will look like in three to five years, look at what's happening in online games," says Byron Reeves, a Stanford University communications professor and co-founder of Seriosity.

The study points out that games can become "management flight simulators" of sorts, letting employees manage a global workforce in cyberspace before they do so in the real world. More than half of the managers surveyed say playing massive multiplayer games had helped them lead at work. Three-quarters of those surveyed believed that specific game tools, such as expressive avatars that can communicate via body language, as well as by voice and typing, would help manage remote employees in the real world.

If you've got the time check out the links in my post - there's some great information and they will provide you with quite a bit of insight into why IBM is doing this.

Remember, our world is changing and everyone out there doesn't think, react, respond, or even learn like you. We've got a new generation coming up that will challenge the way we do business, progress through our careers, and tackle opportunities.

Happy Gaming!