Grant Taylor-Hill

As in traditional sports, motivation is a key tool for seeking out success in esports. An effective motivator can empower a team to move mountains, and a leader that inspires their team has transcended simply 'being in charge'. There's something special about an organisation that both recognises and handles emotional resiliency well and in esports, those elements are crucial. Let's not forget, we're dealing primarily with younger athletes who can be less resilient overall to the stresses of competition, and they'll need to be coached accordingly. At the same time, we can't treat them like we're walking on eggshells. These young competitors are the future of the industry, and they should be moulded as such.

Off the back of communication and coordination comes collaboration. If everyone has a voice, the ideas will surface and they can be processed accordingly. It's an old adage, but there is no 'I' in team - it's called an organisation for that reason, right? If something doesn't work, then you literally go back to the drawing board, ensuring that everyone is heard and that contributions are taken seriously. Seek out opportunities to have your stronger performers empower the weaker members of the team, and actively work to combat areas of concern. As a leader, nothing is more important than getting to know your team, fostering a collaborative, caring culture, and fully understanding everyone's capabilities.

It doesn't matter what your game is, every organisation should have that 'North Star' that they're aiming for. Typically, that'll be a world championship title, but sometimes it's best to aim down the sights with a shorter-term vision and build up to that. It's not enough to just play games and hope for the best results -- it needs coordination. That could be a coordinated effort to get in better shape both mentally and physically, or it could be a collaborative and conscious decision to practice at set times every day, or every week. However you plan, make sure you have SMART goals and that you can deliver on everything you put in front of you and - more importantly - that you can measure that delivery.

It's not just about being a clear communicator in esports, you have to also have the right tone, respect for your teammates and coaches, and the ability to know when to keep quiet. It's paramount that clear communications are baked into every training regime in esports, as one bad 'callout' can ruin an entire round, giving the opposing team the upper hand in an engagement. From the top down, communications must be transparent and collaborative. Even at the leadership level, you must be an effective, efficient communicator. Every player, every member of the production team, every creator -- they all need to have a voice and feel empowered to speak up.

As someone with a background in competitive gaming, I can safely profess that there's a stark difference between just playing a game and playing a game at an 'esports' level. Every map becomes a blueprint for success or failure, depending on how you approach it. Every avenue, every lane - it all matters. Each shot, how you position yourself, and how you communicate and call out each successive step of the game. It's all important, down to the individual attachments used on a weapon or each currency spent during a buy round. If you know your game to this 'meta level', then you're one step ahead of the competition.