To run a successful team you need a manager, there is no way around this. However a lot of people seem to have a limited understanding of what it takes to be a good manager and what a good manager actually does day to day for the team. The common perception of what a manager is an organizer...

To run a successful team you need a manager, there is no way around this. However a lot of people seem to have a limited understanding of what it takes to be a good manager and what a good manager actually does day to day for the team. The common perception of what a manager is an organizer, someone who organizes play-days, matches, practices, etc. and does nothing else other than ‘acquire sponsorships’ as if it is such an easy task. However what most people don’t realize is that a good manager does so much more than that; from negotiations with sponsors/team organization to the general team bonding. Managers are the unsung heroes of today’s E-Sports.

Managers have many responsibilities that most people outside of an organization have no clue about; one of the most important parts of this is the ethics behind the work. If a manager is in it for himself, or is only doing this to be as famous as the players, they will not do a good job, and the situation will be worse off than if you didn’t have a manager at all. A manager needs to put his players, for without the players the managers’ position doesn’t even exist. World Elite manager, Pei ‘King’ Le, had this to say about putting the players above all else:

“I think a good club will put players at the top priority, which is the basic rule for a team.”

If a team does not look after one of its strongest assets in a befitting manner, how stable will the organization be? Professional teams such as fnatic(CS), WICKED(Wc3), and WE(Wc3) have been together for years, developing their players alongside their management. The managers do not treat the players like hired mercenaries that are here for a short term and when something goes wrong they dump them.

Alongside this level of commitment come player and team bonding; a technique rarely seen outside of South Korean SC teams. Managers use this to keep the players closer, instilling a team ethic, allowing the players to have a support group of sorts. If a player needs help strategically, his teammates will be there for him, if the player loses a big match and needs support and motivation, his teammates will be there. When asked about whether he uses any sort of player bonding techniques to help solidify the team, King had this to say:

“Yes, I always do these kinds of jobs; my team will organize some outside activities. It is convenient for us due to we are living together.”

A duty mostly overlooked by people outside of a team organization is negotiating. Most managers act as the middle man for their players, negotiating salary, sponsorship details and player conditions. Without a manager, a player would probably just take what was offered to them and not even bother try and negotiate for what they deserve. Or, just as bad, if not worse, a player would try and negotiate for what they want, and not what they need. A manager takes into account what a player needs and deserves, not what someone else thinks they deserve or what the player wants.

Marketing is also a very large part of a managers duties; making sure the players maintain their ‘value’ by appearing often in the public eye, winning isn’t enough. Scheduling interviews and features; organizing movies and PR stints like working at a Steel Series booth ensures the players have a future. Winning is only a piece of the pie these days, if the public can’t relate to the players in anyway, or look up to them like role models, who is going to be interested in following these players as fans? Without a manager to regulate the publicity output of a player the proverbial money tree would either wither and die due to lack of care, or be over picked and left useless for long term development.

Booking tickets, reserving hotel rooms, scheduling play-days and matches, scheduling practices and more. As a manager you are expected to run not only your own life and career, but that of over 5 other people as well. Maintaining healthy living conditions for players, making sure they are on-time, all the time, becomes more of a task than one would think.

“We don't force them to practice; they have their own practice methods. However, I will supervise their practices, if they don't have enough practices or don’t put enough effort in on them, I will point that out and let them fix it by themselves.” – Pei ‘King’ Le

Teaching your players responsibility will instill in them a professional attitude towards their career, and their teammates. It is one thing to be a team slave, and baby your players day in and day out; teaching your players on the other hand, ensures growth. You can be bogged down with the same work every day, or you can teach your players, and they themselves can take charge of their lives and careers, allowing you as the manager to help grow them as players, and the team/players brands as well.

Management styles come into play on a monumental level in situations such as this, as well as all of your other daily dealings. You can be a taskmaster, and treat your players as earning slips, or you can be a ‘Jerry Maguire’ and take on people’s lives, not account numbers.

When asked which style he preferred King had this to say:

“I am on both sides when I am doing management. We are living together; we are playing together, making jokes as friends. Nevertheless, on a team perspective, they have to follow what I am saying.”

Which brings up a good point to be a good manager, you need to treat your players as human beings. However they need to know that you are their manager, and that you are looking out for their best interests; so they need to follow you regardless of what they want to do.

To be a good manager does not require you to have a lot of money, or be the best coach, or a team slave. You need to have a heart, treat your players like people, and think logically. Take note of the tools around you in this industry, and use them to your advantage, be smart about it and have fun.

What made you want to be an E-Sports manager instead of being a player?
I became a leader when I was involved in Cyber games. I thought a person cannot perform well on both things, due to my own obligations; I chose to be a good leader.

As a manager what is your first priority?
Usually as a manager, I need to think tons of related things. If there is a priority list, I think the solidarity and stability are the most important things.

As a manager what are your duties, main and small?
I have many jobs to do; especially those tiny things which are normally trivial are need to be dealt with. Generally, I need to consider the strategy of development for my team, on the other hand I have to take care my players' the basic necessities of life.

As a manager do you put the players first?
I think a good club will put players at the top priority, which is the basic rule for a team.

Do you think it takes a certain type of person to be a manager?
I don't think everyone can be a leader or a manager of a team; this is related to personal characteristics. I think I am good to be a manager with my personalities.

Do you plan on going on to be an E-Sports manager or do you have other plans for your future?
I am planning to manage WE well and develop CyberGames in China as my career. I don't have any other plans so far.

Are there certain qualities or skills you look for in players you wish to manage?
When I choose team members, I need to consider the diverse ways of the person, the most important trait is whether the player can get along with the WE team, is he suitable for WE? And, will he put a lot of effort on practices; this will be a key factor as well.

Is the myth of age limits anything to be taken seriously? Many people think that when you reach around 21 or so, your career as a professional gamer is over, that you are too old to keep up with the younger players.
I don't think age have an impact on a players career. I think we are thinking of this problem because of the immaturity of Cyber games. It means, the salary of players is not that good enough, when they hit a certain age, they need to consider about their future life, or they need to think about marriage, children etc. All of these are related to money; usually players who become older cannot concentrate on practices and matches. They get distracted so that they cannot achieve success. In my opinion when our pro gamers can earn the same amount of money that other athletes do, the problem will be gone.

From a team dynamic point of view, do you think it is better to have players from across the world (EU/China/Korea) on the same team? Or do you think it would be better having them the same nationality?
United together is the most important factor, no matter what different nationalities they can be a solidified part of the team as well.

Do you ever do ‘player bonding’ with your players? Like how the Korean Starcraft teams take their players out to do ‘bonding sessions’ where they do group activities to improve team ethics?
Yes, I always do these kinds of jobs; my team will organize some outside activities. It is convenient for us due to we are living together.

How do you structure the players practice schedules? Do you enforce any sort of set hours, or mandatory exercise for the players?
We don't force them to practice; they have their own practice methods. However, I will supervise their practices, if they don't have enough practices or don’t put enough effort in on them, I will point that out and let them fix it by themselves.

Do you ever coach your players on things outside of the games they play? Such as how to handle themselves in the public eye, at events and in interviews, etc?
Of course, once we meet those conditions I will tell them or explain to them, there are many young players in my team.

As a manager what do you expect out of your players?
Actually, I am satisfied with my team members and I feel proud of them, I hope that Cyber games can be improved in a correct way.

Do you see your management style as a more forceful style? Where you boss the players around and tell them what to do? Or do you try and inspire them to do their best and motivate them to be better?
I am on both sides when I am doing management. We are living together; we are playing together, making jokes as friends. Nevertheless, on a team perspective, they have to follow what I am saying.

As a manager, do you find it important to coach your players on the mental side of the game as well? Try and help them get over the emotional mind blocks? Try and let them play logically and not emotionally?
Oh, I am usually trying to do these kinds of jobs, but there are no good effects, I don't have any solid ways to make an impact on their emotions.

From a management perspective do you ever take on a lot of the players emotional hardships onto your shoulders to help them?
Yes, we are Pro gamers and a Pro team; we all stay together, we help each other to alleviate pressure, sometimes, I get some pressure from certain aspects of my job, and they will take care of me as well, that kind of feeling is good.

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