Guide [Issue 17] The Team Leader's Manual

[SpreadLoveNotHate 374]

The Team Leader's Manual

 

Being the leader of a team isn't easy and as your team gets bigger, the numbers are hard to control and then your team starts to run it's downhill slope. There are many things that should and should not be done as a leader, as they could affect how your members look at your team and decide whether or not to stay. Factors include activity, organization and cooperation, but decisions that are made by the team leader can affect the team's future, which is rather important even if you have a strong team. Throughout the three months of being leader of Legion of Killers, it was an unforgettable journey of learning and here summarized in an article, how to be a good team leader.

 

Starting your Team Off

 

Probably the hardest part off being a team leader is starting your team, and starting to make a schedule of how you want your team to operate. Finding your members is hard, but if you play enough battles and know friends that are interested, it won't be that suffocating of a procedure. Remember that you are only allowed to search for members in PM or in game chat. The easiest way to keep track of those interested in joining your new team is to make either a document on your computer compiling the list of member names in which you would need on your team page, or just write them down on a sticky note. This way, it is easy to count and keep track of the people you have to add.

 

It's not really important at first to get a full M3 or strong team, but it is important that your members are loyal, as over time, as it gets bigger and more well known, you will get better numbers and better players. Team LOK started out with only Warrant Officers and Lieutenants, but as the time progressed, it soon became a team full of high ranks, and a very active bunch as well.  

 

After that, find a way for your team to communicate. It should be mandatory as a requirement to have your way of communication, whether it's an online chat program, or Skype. This way, they will be updated on certain changes in the team and will be able to organize practices and wars in the future. 

 

 

Picking Members

 

Picking members to join the team ensures that it will be smoothly ran in the future. Known troublemakers, or enemies, should not be allowed into the team as it will cause fights and often will not be able to perform well as a team. When your team first starts, you won't be able to get all Generalissimos, but work your way up, and just fulfill the member number requirements before being picky on ranks. 

 

When your team is operating, control your members. If anything bad happens, don't be afraid to act as a leader, and kick the member. If not, the member could continue his inappropriate actions knowing nothing will be done to take him out, which will have a negative effect on your team. 

 

 

Organizing Trainings and Team Wars

 

Getting trainings and team wars going is probably one of the most important factors that determine how successful a team is.

 

Trainings are events that should happen at least than once a week, to prepare your team for a team war. For a member, playing in a training is something that builds on their skills and also allows them to play with their team, which is a great feeling for most. Getting to know each other's tank skills and battle strategies will help the team in the future during wars and team vs team trainings. 

 

Wars help the team build their self esteem mostly. If you win one or many wars, then there is something your team can cheer about, and hopefully it will attract more players to join the team. The more famous people that join your team, the larger it gets and soon, you'll have a crowded (or overly crowded) team. 

 

 

Getting a Team Page Design

 

Once your team has gotten its way on track, getting a design for the main page would be something that's necessary in attracting other players to looking at your team page, and also to keep things less dull, organized, and interesting. Find someone that will do it for free hopefully and it could become a good investment for the future.

 

For your page, remember to put up an application for players that want to join to make things easier for you to sort out, or also for the player to know what to write. In addition, include on the page the list of members, title graphic if preferred over a plain text title, and what other team leaders should do if they want to have a team war with your team. 

 

Sort out Organization in your Team

 

Being leader is stressful if you try organizing everything yourself.

 

 

Believe me, I've been through it. Therefore, assign certain positions to promote members which will split your work as well. Some of those positions should include designing, recruiting and either Co-leader or High Council. Be careful with the higher positions, if there is more than 1 player in those spots, it could spark arguments which is not something that is wanted in a team. When all your positions are made, if anyone isn't doing their job you can fill the position with another person.   

 

How your Team Members View YOU

 

This is important, it determines how they behave, how active they are and what they are expected to do for the team. 

 

For being a leader, you yourself need to be active for no less than a couple hours a week, and show up daily to show that they are not forgotten. Other than that, you cannot show your weak side. What is meant is, you cannot allow them to overpower you, and make team changing decisions unless they have advised you. 

 

During my time as leader, I let things get out of hand. Insults were flying through the Skype chat hourly, and powers were being misused inside the chat. It's not something that you would want and it is what led to the downfall of my team. Don't be afraid to take away powers or positions from players if they are not effective at it, or are causing more harm than good. Kick out members that have been inactive for a long time, and keep track of all your current members' combinations, and time zones, for future reference.

 

 

In the end, leaders should be expected to step up, and be the leader that your team needs. Don't be afraid to take over, and show them who's boss (Yes, very important), because without authority, behaving will definitely be an issue for those particular members in the team. Team Legion of Killers was successful, until conflicts in chat starting to arise, and I couldn't stop them. Closing the team was probably one of my worst decisions, and I still regret it. Talk with your members of the team before you make any irrational decisions that will affect it. Special thanks to all the members that were in LOK, you are what made LOK the most active team back then, and still has the most views and replies today.    

 

 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Hexed

[therider99 99]

man that was saddening and interesting at the same time good job loki ;) really helped 

[Remaine 4,687]

man that was saddening and interesting at the same time good job loki ;) really helped 

[DynamiteBang 119]

man that was saddening and interesting at the same time good job loki ;) really helped 

[GoldRock 6,165]

man that was saddening and interesting at the same time good job loki ;) really helped 

Edited November 1, 2013 by GoldRock

[r_Firingsniper0 1,215]

*regrets*

[Pabloblue 21]

Good read :)

[Atakhan 1,229]

Nice and very helpful :)

[icerugby 1,886]

LoK was the best team back then <3 Anyway, Great article :)

[Bakker-NL 1]

Really great! For new leaders this is really useful, but most of them don't read the press.. ):

I don't have that much time to play, so I won't be leader too. But if I ever would join a clan or team, I will remember this!

 

Good job!

 

B-NL

[Gio_Control 581]

Interesting and helpful! Good job!

[BakedCake 31]

Good job! Lots of useful information that can help in many ways.

[NoThInG_In_ThE_WoRlD 6]

Very nice, missing those days <3

[Eragon 13,876]

Great article