So, question . . .

What are we talking about when we talk about “leadership”?

For many years I have defined it as “Articulation of Vision”. Well, I’ve done more than that. I’ve further defined it by attributing it to a fictional grandfather to add extra credibility in a blatant use of the fallacy “Appeal to Authority”. Why? Because that is part of my “leadership” style.

Yet, is that the “leadership” we are discussing? I don’t think it is. That is not truly “Instance leadership”. I assume that the party members show up with a vision that requires no further articulation. It is inherent in the co-constructed environment of the instances – quests, steps and phat loots!

So, I believe we are discussing what we should refer to as “instance leadership”. This is further defined by the types and talents of the party. It is even further defined by the pre-existing knowledge between those party members. Now, add the environmental factors of both the difficulty of the instance and the “local knowledge” of that instance.

Linda asks if she is a chess piece, saxophonist or audience member. From my instance leadership perspective, I’d reorder that to audience member, chess piece and saxophonist than I’d decide based on both talents and pre-existing knowledge of the player. When I’m not the leader, I am one of those three depending on the factors above.

I would define Twink as an above-average instance leader [and I like how he calls the square dance]. I would define myself as a below-average Instance leader. This isn’t humility or self-deprecation [my grandfather warned me about those]. It is a personal and experiential assessment based on my lack of both “local knowledge” and class specifics.

I compensate by favoring a “Jazz” style and relying on a small group of folks I have specific “jamming” experience. When Twink could not run Slave Pens I had some “instance leadership” concerns, but more personal concerns. I know Hall’, Clive’ and Assa’, but I don’t know them in Slave Pens. Yet, they aren’t a PUG . . I have specific and/or special connections to all these folks. The pressure of not messing up that run weighted very heavy on me.

So, using that other type of “leadership”, I called in a specialist. I called NDynamite. He is the best Pali’ with whom I’ve ever run. He is also one of the most generous players I have known. He is the type like Twink who make miracles look routine. He can tank. He can heal. He can react. He can recover. He can improvise. He is a great “Jazz” player.

So, back to the question . . that I have tried to partially answer . . . what are we talking about when we talk about “leadership?” Instance? Guild? Quests? Mentoring?