Leadership and the cost

Leadership comes in many shapes and ways. I have been a leader at work, with developers, and also in games, as a guild master. They are both hard. There are many reasons to why its hard, as well as reasons to why its fun and rewarding.
Either way, no matter how you view it; it comes at a cost. Sometimes, it affects friendships, and creates ripple effects.

This is that. That cost.

Recently, i have been demoting two of my founding officers. When the guild <Daydreamers> was founded in January of 2025 on Thunderstrike (Alliance), the two officers i am speaking of, were amongst the few to join first. Heck, i have even met them in real life. I have played with them, had good conversations with them, all of that. Thats the cost. It can cost, although i hope not, those relations.

“But Abbi, why do this?”

-Because of the guild.

You see, a guild functions as an organization. Even when you set out to create a guild that isn’t like that; it has to be like that. If you plan to actually clear content, to evolve, and do things together, it has to be like that. It needs structure. Systems, responsibilities, and moving elements to create initiatives and spread excitement where there is none.
That is what being a part of a guild administration is like.

If parts of the administration isn’t working - it needs to go. If it is not planning for the guild, actively “doing more” than the average guild member, it has to go. An officer is an example. Not an expert, but an example and driving force to combine the guild members into a singular force for clearing content and winning together.

I have viewed this situation evolve (or rather; not evolve at all) over the last couple of weeks. This is not a decision i take lightly, and i do expect the officers that i have demoted to resent me. To even consider leaving the guild. It would be a shame, since they are cool people… But it had to be done. When the examples of force, isn’t showing force - are they then great examples of force? The fact is: no. It is truly as simple as that.

Officers, and any administration for that matter, thrives on diversity. However, diversity alone cannot carry the burdens that come from being in charge of a community. Of progress. Diversification is a need, indeed, but certain criteria still have to be met. Such as: Knowledge, responsibility and participation. Even the lack of knowledge is close to unproblematic, since it can be obtained. The will to take on responsibility or actively participate, are different. This has to be done.
These are the basic requirements.

I had 8 officers. Now i have 6. I am optimistic. Daydreamers’ core is stronger than ever, and with a more focused selection of officers, i do believe that it will be both easier to maintain - and more effective to evolve.

-Abbi