Last updated on December 18th, 2024 at 03:05 pm

Building Small Business Teams with Wurm Online

Team building is essential for the success of any small business. The ability to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and solve problems as a unit can mean the difference between thriving in a competitive market and struggling to stay afloat. But how do you foster these qualities in a team without resorting to clichéd and often uninspiring activities? Enter Wurm Online, a unique online game that offers a virtual sandbox for creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving—making it an excellent tool for team building.

What Is Wurm Online?

Wurm Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) where players build, survive, and thrive in a vast open world. Unlike fast-paced action games, Wurm Online takes a slower, more thoughtful approach. Players can terraform land, construct buildings, farm, craft tools, and even establish entire villages. The game encourages long-term planning and teamwork, making it a perfect environment for small business teams to develop their skills in a low-pressure, engaging setting.

Why Wurm Online Works for Team Building

The core mechanics of Wurm Online naturally align with the principles of effective team building. Here are a few reasons why this game is particularly suited to the task:

1. Collaboration Is Essential: In Wurm Online, no single player can really master all the skills needed to build and maintain a thriving settlement. Just like in a business, players must rely on each other’s strengths to achieve common goals. One person might focus on farming while another crafts tools or builds structures.
2. Problem-Solving in Real-Time: The game presents a variety of challenges, from managing resources to protecting your settlement from wildlife. These scenarios require players to think critically and work together to devise solutions—mirroring the problem-solving skills needed in the workplace.
3. Encourages Long-Term Thinking: Unlike games that offer instant gratification, Wurm Online rewards patience and long-term planning. Building a house or growing crops can take hours or even days of real-world time (so make sure that you are aware that it’s not just a single hour’s session – maybe allow a dedicated time each week for the team to log in), teaching teams the value of persistence and strategic planning.
4. Low-Stakes Environment: The virtual world of Wurm Online provides a safe space for experimentation. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and the consequences are far less severe than in a business setting. This encourages creativity and innovation.
5. Fun and Engagement: Let’s face it, team-building exercises can sometimes feel like a chore. Wurm Online’s immersive gameplay keeps participants engaged and entertained, ensuring that the experience is both enjoyable and productive.

Setting Up Wurm Online for Your Team

To use Wurm Online as a team-building tool, you’ll need to plan and set up a structured experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Define Your Objectives: Before diving in, determine what you want your team to achieve. Are you looking to improve communication, enhance problem-solving skills, or simply build rapport? Clear goals will help you design activities within the game.
2. Assign Roles and Goals: Divide your team into smaller groups and assign roles that play to their strengths or encourage them to try something new. For example, one group might focus on resource gathering while another works on construction.
3. Create Challenges: Design in-game tasks that require teamwork to complete. This could be building a shared structure, establishing a farm, or navigating to a specific location. Ensure the challenges align with your team-building goals.
4. Facilitate and Observe: As the organiser, monitor how the team interacts. Are they communicating effectively? Are they leveraging each other’s strengths? Use this opportunity to provide guidance or feedback.
5. Debrief Afterwards: After the gaming session, gather your team to discuss their experience. What did they learn? How did they overcome challenges? Relate these lessons back to your workplace objectives.

Key Skills Your Team Can Develop

By engaging in Wurm Online, your team can develop a range of skills that are directly transferable to the workplace:

• Communication: Successful gameplay requires players to share information and coordinate their actions.
• Leadership: Team members can take turns leading tasks, allowing everyone to develop their leadership skills.
• Adaptability: The game’s dynamic environment forces players to adapt to new situations quickly.
• Time Management: With tasks taking real-world time to complete, players must prioritise and plan their activities.
• Conflict Resolution: Disagreements about strategy or roles are inevitable. The game provides a controlled environment to practice resolving conflicts constructively.

Real-World Success Stories

Many organisations have started exploring gamification as a team-building tool, and Wurm Online has the potential to join the ranks of proven methods. For instance, a small marketing firm in Manchester recently reported a significant improvement in team cohesion after using the game for a weekend workshop. The team built a virtual village together, overcoming resource shortages and communication hurdles along the way. By the end of the experience, they had not only developed a thriving settlement but also a stronger sense of camaraderie and trust.

Another example comes from a tech start-up in London. They used Wurm Online to train their project managers in long-term planning and delegation. By simulating a complex construction project in the game, participants learned how to allocate resources efficiently and manage their teams effectively—skills they later applied to real-world projects.

Tips for Success

To make the most of Wurm Online as a team-building tool, keep these tips in mind:

• Keep It Inclusive: Ensure that everyone on your team feels comfortable participating, regardless of their gaming experience. Provide a brief tutorial or training session if needed.
• Balance Fun and Learning: While the primary goal is team building, don’t forget to let your team enjoy the experience. A relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere fosters better engagement.
• Customise the Experience: Tailor the game’s challenges and goals to align with your team’s specific needs and workplace dynamics.
• Follow Up: Use the insights gained from the gaming session to implement changes in your workplace. This could involve refining communication protocols or adopting new project management strategies.

Why Small Businesses Should Embrace Gamification

Small businesses often operate with limited resources and tight-knit teams, making effective collaboration even more critical. Gamification, especially through platforms like Wurm Online, offers an affordable and innovative way to strengthen team dynamics. Unlike traditional team-building exercises, games provide an interactive and immersive experience that resonates with modern workers, particularly younger employees who are familiar with gaming culture.

Moreover, the lessons learned in a virtual environment often translate seamlessly to the real world. By navigating challenges, setting goals, and working collaboratively in Wurm Online, your team can develop skills that improve workplace performance and morale.

Final Thoughts

Wurm Online is more than just a game; it’s a powerful tool for team building and professional development. Its emphasis on collaboration, problem-solving, and long-term planning makes it an ideal choice for small businesses looking to foster a strong, cohesive team. By incorporating this innovative approach into your team-building strategy, you can create a more engaged and effective workforce while having fun in the process.

So why not give it a try? The author has been playing for Wurm Online in a personal capacity for 4 years now (and by no means is one of the older players as some have been playing for over 20 years) so if you are logged into the Cadence server and want to say “hi” look for MoteAndBailey.   Your next great team-building adventure might just start in the virtual world of Wurm Online.