Lessons in preparedness from a tabletop roleplaying gamer

Any storyteller knows that crafting a narrative requires not only creativity, but also time, flexibility, and, importantly, the ability to ask critical questions. So it is in tabletop roleplaying games (ttrpgs).

❓Who should they encounter first in this village? Which option here would make the most compelling adventure hook? Do we have time for a combat encounter here, and is that something my players want?

⁉️What if I present them with an adventure hook, and they turn around and want to go somewhere else?

In my experience, the TTRPG sessions I prepare for in advance are more vibrant, refined, and ultimately more fulfilling for the players than those I don’t. While session prep helps me become a better off-the-cuff GM, I didn’t anticipate how much practice it would take to build those preparation skills. I have to give time for some ideas to marinate, which can be challenging in today’s world of “do more with less” and “do more faster”. Practicing flexibility allows me to handle those “oh, shit” moments where players throw me a curveball I wasn’t expecting, despite my session prep.

Practicing my preparedness skills in ttrpgs has improved my ability to think proactively and plan at work, which in turn helps my team be more effective. Marketing operations professionals are, at their core, problem solvers. While input from my team is a key component of my working style, I also have a responsibility to ask the right questions before agreeing to take on a project and attempting to solve it.

❓Is this a marketing problem that can be solved by my team? What other teams will we need to collaborate with, and at what points in the project? Are we solving this in the best way for the stakeholder?

⁉️What if the requirements change part way through the project?

Collaborating with my manager and teammates doesn’t work well if I show up asking for help with a problem which I haven’t scoped (at the least) or attempted to solve on my own. In my mentor experience, I have found that a big step up for many young professionals in their careers is developing the ability to ask critical questions and get a project rolling before looping in necessary stakeholders. Another big step is being able to drive that project through to completion with empathy and flexibility.

The same skills that keep a game session on track are the ones that drive projects forward in the real world: intentional preparation, asking questions, and staying flexible. Whether I'm behind the GM screen or leading a marketing initiative, the goal is the same: guide the story, support the team, and be ready for anything.

Interested in bringing the magic of TTRPGs to your team? I run tabletop roleplaying experiences designed for corporate groups — building connection, creativity, and collaboration through shared storytelling. Get in touch to learn more about what a session could look like for your team.