It’s Christmas eve, and time to open our final Advent Calendar door. What better way to relax before the holiday festivities than by playing some tabletop games for all the family? Maybe a role playing game like Dungeons and Dragons as suggested by AmyJune!
Listening Like a Dungeon Guide
RPG Skills for Stakeholder Work
At DrupalCamp Colorado 2025, I caught a session by Eric Davila titled Listening Like a Dungeon Master: Leveraging RPG Skills for Stakeholder Magic. The talk explored an idea that feels especially relevant to Drupal projects of all sizes: successful collaboration depends far more on listening and facilitation than on control or authority.
By drawing parallels between tabletop role-playing games(RPGs) and stakeholder work, Eric highlighted how similar these environments really are. In both cases, the person guiding the group is not the protagonist. Their role is to support everyone else at the table.
Facilitation Is a Service
One of the central themes of the session was that facilitation is a service role. In tabletop games, the guide is not there to “win” or dictate the story. They are there to help players explore, make choices, and feel invested in what unfolds.
The same principle applies to stakeholder groups, advisory boards, and cross-functional teams. Even when someone has decision-making authority, meaningful collaboration requires stepping back. If feedback is solicited only after decisions are made, people disengage quickly. Genuine listening is what gives stakeholder work its value.
Know the Party
Eric encouraged facilitators to think about group dynamics the same way RPG players think about party composition. Some participants naturally lead discussions. Others provide support, ask clarifying questions, or spot risks. None of these roles are inherently better, but ignoring them leads to imbalance.
A key tactic here is holding one-on-one conversations before bringing the group together. In private, people are more likely to share concerns, uncertainty, or skepticism. These insights rarely surface in a room full of peers, yet they often determine whether a group will succeed or stall.
Start With Shared Expectations
Borrowing directly from tabletop gaming, Eric introduced the idea of a “session zero.” This is a dedicated moment to set expectations before real work begins.
In a professional context, this means agreeing on how the group will interact, how conflict is handled, and what success looks like. It also includes clarifying accountability, participation expectations, and boundaries. Establishing these norms early creates psychological safety and reduces friction later.
Prepare, but Stay Flexible
Preparation matters, but over-preparation can be just as harmful as showing up unprepared. Eric emphasized having a lightweight framework for meetings rather than a rigid script. A repeatable structure helps participants orient themselves, while flexibility leaves room for unexpected but valuable discussion.
Logistics also matter more than people often admit. Taking notes, sharing summaries, and providing recaps help maintain momentum and ensure progress does not disappear between sessions.
Listen First, Then Respond
Eric’s most direct advice was also the simplest: stop talking and listen. The real insights emerge when participants talk to each other, not just to the facilitator.
Listening allows facilitators to react in the moment, reflect ideas back to the group, and acknowledge uncertainty when answers are not yet clear. Admitting “we do not know yet” often builds more trust than pretending clarity exists.
Avoid Railroading
In RPGs, forcing players down a single path is called railroading. It removes agency and drains engagement. Stakeholder work can fall into the same trap when outcomes are predetermined.
Effective facilitation guides without forcing. Checking in on goals, allowing exploration, and course-correcting gently keeps the group moving without shutting down participation.
Closing the Loop
The session wrapped with a reminder that progress needs punctuation. Clear moments of completion, reflection, and feedback help people feel that something meaningful happened.
Whether guiding adventurers or stakeholders, the lesson is the same: listening is not a soft skill. It is the core skill.
AmyJune currently works with the Linux Foundation as their Certification Community Architect. She is responsible for supporting the Certification team’s efforts in building and maintaining exams and related documentation for exam products in the Linux Foundation’s certification portfolio. She is a Drupal Mentor Coordinator, DrupalCamp organizer (Florida DrupalCamp, DrupalCamp Asheville, and DrupalCamp Colorado), and a CWG Community Health Team member. She serves on the board of the Colorado Drupal Association. AmyJune helps communities discover how they can contribute and belong in more ways than code. Her ability to eat with her elbows on the table has wowed the world.
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