Effective Leadership Strategies for Guiding Managers in Game Development

At a recent Develop Brighton conference, Charity Joy delivered a presentation on the art of leading individuals who manage other leaders, sharing valuable insights and strategies gathered from her experience in the game development industry. Joy stressed the significance of curiosity, trust, and clear communication in supporting managers and provided effective feedback techniques and methods for aligning teams across an organization, particularly when guiding individuals in areas outside of one's expertise. According to Joy, having a curious nature and being open to asking questions is essential when leading leaders, but a 'sense of knowing' can hinder this curiosity. She noted that 'knowing' can be limiting, as it closes off opportunities for learning and growth, especially when working with individuals who possess different areas of expertise. Joy encouraged leaders to be comfortable with not knowing and to find joy in discovery. She highlighted the importance of asking questions in a way that fosters curiosity and encourages team members to share their thoughts and ideas. When asked questions as a leader, Joy suggested taking a moment to pause and reflect before responding, ensuring that the answer is thoughtful, helpful, and not a monologue. She also emphasized the need for vision alignment and clear communication when leading leaders, as confusion at the top can be magnified throughout the team. Joy warned against assuming that team members are experts in their fields and don't require guidance, as well as avoiding sharing bad news due to concerns about the team's ability to handle it. Instead, Joy advocated for trusting team members and providing them with the space to be heard. She suggested that leaders should aim to be good facilitators, knowing when to lead and when to follow, and encouraged them to speak last in meetings, eliciting ideas from the team rather than dominating the conversation. Joy introduced a framework for building trust, which consists of three pillars: capability, reliability, and motive. This framework can be used to address issues with team members or stakeholders and to facilitate self-reflection. She also discussed the importance of consistency and authenticity in guiding managers, as it builds trust and reliability. Joy recommended that leaders be intentional about how they show up and present themselves, being clear, trustworthy, reliable, and consistent. To maintain consistency, Joy suggested practicing mindfulness and using mantras and 'I am' statements to set the tone and support leaders. For example, one of her mantras is 'my mood is not my master,' which helps her reset and be present in meetings. By embracing these strategies and practices, leaders can effectively guide managers and foster a positive, productive work environment.