Playing video games has often been seen as a waste of time and only suitable for lazy people or enthusiasts. Since the original inception of the first gaming console in the early 1970s, gaming and gamers alike have been subjected to harsh criticism and stereotypes associated with the culture of games. In no way was it thought that gaming could increase dealer skills or strategic planning skills because it was widely believed that gaming was harmful to people and not beneficial in any way.
In more recent days, however, there have been several studies conducted on the effects of gaming on people, and the results have shown the complete opposite of what was once believed about the gaming community. Not only is it not as harmful as once believed, but studies have shown that gamers can develop certain skills by playing games. These skills, like leadership and communication, have become invaluable in the world today, particularly in the workplace.
The beliefs about gaming have come full circle, to the point where it has now been proven that it can vastly improve various skills that can bolster your business career. Let’s look at eight examples of these kinds of skills.
Problem Solving
Probably the most common benefit associated with any form of gaming is the ability to problem-solve. This is because games are often based around a certain challenge or problem that you, the player, need to fix or solve. These can be large problems or small ones that need to be solved on the fly as you play. When you repeatedly tackle specific tasks or obstacles to progress in various games, your problem-solving skills will naturally develop over time.
This is a super invaluable skill to have in the workplace, as there are a lot of problems that need solving every day in the business world! Being able to solve and navigate complex and tricky issues in the business place will be of great service to your overall success in the workplace.
Leadership
Multiplayer video games throw players into scenarios in which organizing and managing teams is a necessity for survival and ultimate victory. The more a gamer steps into those leadership roles within a team-game context, the more their natural ability to lead people will begin to grow.
Every business needs leaders to take it forward strongly and healthily, so it shouldn’t be a surprise next time you see a gamer friend taking control of a real-life situation like a boss.
Multi-Tasking
As technology has developed, games have become increasingly more complex and intense. What used to be considered a simple task of just hitting a ball has turned into a fully-fledged world of happenings all at once. In the popular game Grand Theft Auto, players are given many different tasks to complete in a specific time frame, all while fending off bad guys and making other plans to accommodate one of the tasks.
It’s a whirlwind of goings-on, and the world of business can be like that a lot of the time. The ability to handle a barrage of different things at once is a recipe for efficiency and productivity in the workplace, and gamers learn that while playing games!
Concentration
A serious gamer in the middle of a gaming campaign is virtually impenetrable. There’s very little anybody can do to distract a gamer who’s in complete concentration mode. This is a very valuable skill to have in the workplace because it has become too easy to have broken concentration in a world full of distractions. Having someone skilled at concentrating on something well is invaluable for business growth.
Social Skills
In today’s gaming world, most games are played online with other players from around the world. Players form connections and friendships with other players they bond with while gaming, which they wouldn’t ordinarily form outside of gaming. This helps gamers in the business world to build valuable relationships with clients or business partners.
Strategizing
Players who play high-intensity games that require quick thinking and fast reaction times are building up their brain’s creative and strategic planning center. The more that a player’s brain is forced to think outside the box, the better the player will get at strategy and creative thinking. This becomes a valuable asset to have in the workplace, especially for the growth and forward motion.
Pattern Recognition
From the very basic games like tic-tac-toe to the more modern mobile game Candy Crush, games have always required some form of identifying and responding to patterns to win. It’s the same in business, especially in fields like sales or psychology, where the ability to identify and respond to patterns is invaluable.
Communication
An absolute necessity of every working environment in the world, communication is so important for any business or company. Gamers are learning to communicate in helpful ways through various games they’re playing with their friends and strangers.
Conclusion
The perception of gaming has radically shifted in recent times, with many corporate companies seeking more people who are active video game players so they can hire them for the skills they develop while engaging in a game. So, while gaming in excess can be unhelpful, it’s true that a healthy amount of gaming can, indeed, foster in you the skills mentioned above.
