How a game like League of Legends can save your startup!
By: Dvija Shah
Tags: Startup Life, League of Legends, Teamwork, Learning, Startupsinsider

Imagine you are the head chef of a restaurant’s kitchen. You have a team of 5 members but all of them are only skilled in making main course dishes. The team does not comprise of anyone skilled in slicing vegetables, food presentation, baking or making desserts. Sounds like a restaurant which may work but never be able to out perform other restaurants with all these skills right? Hence explained the essence of this article. It is not only about teamwork but also what makes a team invincible!

In this current digital age, games are the perfect definition of “Global Touchstones”. Why? See around you! The current youth and teenagers have immersed themselves in gameplay, influencing a major part of their lives.

One such game touching the hearts of millions with its grandiose E-sport ceremonies and astounding game graphics while captivating gamers is League of Legends.

Confession: I am among those captivated gamers. The learning I have perceived from this game and am about to share can directly be applied to startups which are in the process of forming their core team. You could have a startup with the best professionals in a certain industry but if your startup does not divide roles and take up characteristics to conquer, those professionals and their talents are simply a waste.

Let’s start by understanding a bit about the game for the non-League of Legends players. The game is a MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game where each match is played in a 5 Vs. 5 team format. The 5 people you team up with could be people you know or complete strangers! The latter is the more common occurring in everyday games.

So if it is a game where strangers are your teammates, how does one win? It is simply because everyone is working towards one common mission, one common goal:

Yes, teamwork is important but the roles each core member plays in your team is of uttermost importance.

In startups, one needs to align everyone’s vision and mission while enhancing their powerful characteristics in one common direction. This helps your core team work towards that one goal collectively, hence, increasing your chances of success.

Here are some of the most important characteristics members in a startup should have. In fact I have compared them with the roles in League of Legends to give you a better understanding of how the strategy of a League of Legends’ team can directly be applied to your startup team.

Top Laner: The Leaders

Leading and helping the team grow together.

Top laners are usually bruisers and tank champions. They lock down enemies and help their team start a fight. They also act as a shield and protect the weaker players while leading the team and helping them attain victory.

Leaders in every field play a similar role in startups. They are responsible for leading their team towards their vision and the dream, which they believe in, while remaining aware. They are constantly helping the members in their team to improve and execute their role in a proficient way. Roles like those of CEOs need this characteristic to lead their team and meet their dream which is the ultimate victory for them.

ADC(Attack, Damage, Carry): The Visionaries

Aim for the target and shoot!

As the name goes ADC players are the ones which deal the most damage to the enemy team. A well farmed and cultivated ADC can carry the game and kill two enemies in one go while leading their team to an easy victory. Visionaries play a similar role in startups.

Visionaries aim for the target and inspire everyone to work towards that direction. If they are experienced(cultivated) they will not only give you a direction to work towards but also give you ways to out perform other competitors while walking towards success.

Mid Laner: The Executers

Time to execute!

Assassins and APCs are usually responsible for the middle lane of the game. They may or may not require any protection from the tank. They are responsible for executing the enemy team while protecting the most vulnerable lane in the game.

Executers in startups should be people who are able to carry out the plans and strategies formulated by the team while hiding all the vulnerable aspects of the same. Penetrating the market easily with their skills in product, marketing, sales and so on is what makes executers profound.

Jungler: The Resourcers

Keep improving the game play of team members with the buffs

A jungler’s role is similar to its name. Their entire game is mostly in the jungle, where they collect money, buffs and valuable items to provide to the team. A good jungler can provide enough resources for their team and lead them to early victory.

Sounds pretty similar to resourcers, doesn’t it? Finding the accurate resources, people and deals for an early startup is really important. Hence, such a characteristic is really important in a startup’s founding team.

Support: Analysts and Strategists

It is all about the right move!

A support, is responsible for enhancing its teammates’ skills by providing them with assistance and highlighting their strengths. They need to make the right move and decide what assistance to give to their team at the right time. They are usually seen playing in close proximity with other players supporting them in team fights.

Analysts and strategists analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their startup and the competitors. This helps them penetrate the competitors using their respective weaknesses while hiding the weakness of their own team. Further, strategizing towards victory is an important characteristic in both game play and startups.

FYI: In a startup it is not necessary that one person can play only one role. A person can play multiple of these roles together. For example: One could be a strategist and analyst while being a good leader. Or one could also be a good visionary and executer together.

Remember: A blend of all these roles is important to take you to victory in the game. Similarly, a blend of all these characteristics is important in a startup team.

I hope this article helps you understand the importance of teamwork in any field. Let us use the benefits of teamwork and keep achieving our dreams.