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Wondering how to improve your teamwork skills? That Phase 1 Portfolio not doing so hot in the teamwork capability?
Consider playing League of Legends, a video game which provides a dynamic, fast-paced environment. You work with a team of 5 people from all across Oceania to achieve the goal of victory–a goal only possible through optimal teamwork.
Through playing League of Legends, my teamwork skills have improved tremendously. In this article, I will share the top 5 lessons I’ve learned from my own experiences, so that you can ace the Teamwork graduate capability when writing your own portfolios!
Starting Off Strong
A good first impression can help create a friendly and non-hostile environment, where every team member feels welcomed, and motivated to contribute towards the shared goal. To break the ice, try asking a relevant question, or making a witty remark, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1
Opening Remarks of a Game
Note. A 5 stack is a group of people who choose to be on the same team as each other pre-game, as opposed to most teams, which are made up of 5 randomly picked people.
Set Realistic Expectations
2.5.1 Participates appropriately in group planning to identify goals and constraints, and to develop a process for achieving goals on time.
While it is important to respect your team members’ decisions, you should not hesitate to speak up if you believe that they are making a decision that is not efficient, or productive. When asking your teammate to meet your, or the group’s previously agreed on, expectations, make sure to thoroughly explore their reasoning for making such a decision, and try to reach a compromise. Figure 2 provides an example of such an interaction.
Figure 2
Pre-game Negotiations
Note. “Sup” refers to the support position within a team (not “supinated” or “stress ulcer prophylaxis”), which involves healing your allies, stunning enemies, blocking damage, and getting blamed by your team when they walk into an enemy’s ability. Also, it was not ‘okay’. I really wanted to play support ashe. 🥹
Clarify Assumptions
2.5.2 Encourages wide participation and develops strategies to address conflicts and difficulties in group work.
If a team member is acting unusually, and conflicts arise, seek to find reasons why this may be the case. In Figure 3, Gangplank displays this quality exceptionally by rationalising that my lack of skill is likely due to a lack of experience.
Figure 3
Gangplank Accuses Seeks Clarification
Note. I (Varus) am not new to this champion. I am extremely experienced at this champ. This is, in fact, basically the only champion that I ever play, and I have been playing for the past 7 years.
Play the blame game
2.5.3 Identifies teamwork strengths and deficiencies in self and others and shows evidence of improvement.
It is crucial that you understand how to blame others for the consequences of your own actions.
Figure 4
Name and Shame
Note. I haven’t seen many people play mage top, so I don’t know if it’s even meant to be good.
Because this is a skill that a lot of League of Legend players seem to have difficulty with, I’ve included more examples below, in Figure 5. Remember that practice makes perfect–if someone has to go down for a malpractice lawsuit, don’t let it be you!
Figure 5
Why are we still here… just to suffer
Note. Zed is expressing that the “dif”, or difference, between the two support players was so big that the game was lost or won by the opposing support players.
2.5.🥲 Seeing every day as a learning opportunity
If the project didn’t work out the way you hoped it would, remember that there are always future learning opportunities! Try to provide constructive criticism, so that you, and your team members, can do better next time.
Figure 8
Kind Parting Remarks
Note. Absolutely destroying 10 year-olds on video games gives me an unadulterated rush of joy.
Conclusion
I hope everyone has found this article as informative as I found the process of playing League to be! I personally can’t wait to apply these skills to my next group project, and I hope to see more people around campus showing off these skills as well!
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