Dungeons & Dragons role-playing skills transferable to the workplace, lecturer says
Dungeons & Dragons role-playing skills transferable to the workplace, lecturer says
Dungeons & Dragons role-playing skills transferable to the workplace, lecturer says
By Zilla Gordon
April 29, 2023
Summary
Fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons has drawn a cult following since its launch in the 1970s, but one researcher says its real takeaway could be transferable skills for the office.
University of Melbourne senior business and marketing lecturer Jesse Olsen said he revived the game during COVID-19 lockdowns and started noticing skills used in the workplace.
He said while there was not yet extensive research, studies so far showed the game helped children improve their communication, self-awareness and critical thinking skills, and adults' team-building abilities developed by playing it.
"You're playing another character and you're taking their perceptive, you're having empathy for this character because this character isn't really you," he said.
Triple J presenter and Dragon Friends podcast host Michael Hing has been playing the game for about a decade.
After doing improv shows with friends from university, the group turned their hand to a podcast, finding their skills from the stage aptly transferred to the dice-rolling game.
While Mr Hing said he was not on expert on office team-building he believed there could be a role for D&D in the workplace.
Reference
Gordon, Z. (2023, April 29). It’s a game where players slay a dragon, but some believe it can help us thrive in the workplace. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-30/dungeons-and-dragons-skills-transferable-workplace-team-building/102217248