Online Gaming Can Boost Your Career

According to two new studies from IBM, if you've been accused of wasting your time playing online games, you may be vindicated. In fact, you could even get your next job because of the time you spend online.

The studies report that online games like World of Warcraft and Everquest can help the next generation of workers become better corporate leaders. The studies show that time spent gaming is actually "honing skills related to collaboration, self-organization, risk taking, openness, influence, and communications."

The gaming model - you advance because of performance, the willingness to take strategic risks, and the desire for success - translates well into a model for success in the corporate world. In fact, 3 out of 4 gamers surveyed believe that the techniques learned in online games could improve their leadership skills. IBM's own study of its internal gaming community affirmed the results - the same leadership skills are relevant in both the gaming and corporate worlds.

So, there you go - if you're a gamer (and I know a few who are criticized for the time they spend gaming), you've got some support from a major corporation and some good career building reasons, if you need them, for being online.

_{Image © Adam Kazmierski}