3 Lessons I Learned from Lemmings (the game)

I always hated the Lemmings computer game: 1) Because it frequently made my computer freeze as a child, and 2) it felt like managing a team of mindless, needy people in a series of life-preserving missions. But I did learn a few things from the game, lessons I've seen repeated in every day life and in various jobs I've held.

1) You need a variety of skill sets for an effective team.
It would be absolutely frustrating to attempt to dig through a wall with only builder lemmings. Granted, the builder lemmings are still useful in many of the missions, but since they can't adapt to taking on a new task, they are useless in forging through walls to reach the lemming home. Like, your company may have the most creative, brilliant minds throwing ideas zinging around the room at every meeting, but if you don't have a writer to create your copy or a designer to make your content look pretty in a new marketing campaign, your great ideas will be building bricks when you really need it to break through a wall.

2. You don't need everyone for every project.
You know those meetings where everyone in the office gathers to discuss something that only two people will actually work on? Yeah, this is a case where you are pulling together a builder, a digger, a blocker, and an exploding lemming when all you need is to build a bridge from one ledge to another. Sure, people from other departments and in different specialties might have great ideas to contribute, but sometimes, a simple email will do. No need to interrupt the lives of all your lemmings.

3. Train your lemmings well, especially after a round of layoffs.
Who wants to be the lemming that has to explode to get through the wall when there are no digger lemmings available because your company just laid off the digger lemming? Don't lay off people you need and think that someone else is going to be able to adapt without some training. Teach your exploding lemming how to be a digger lemming so when there's a wall you need to get through, you don't end up with a burned out employee, trying to complete a task they're not properly trained in.

They're pretty basic lessons, but you and I and the three other people who will read this post know, sometimes companies forget them. So, if you are starting a company and you are organizing a group of lemmings employees, think about all the skill sets you will need.

Will you succeed with ten programmers or will you need people in marketing, customer service, and copy writing as well? Don't overuse your resources and waste their precious time and energy. And train your employees in a variety of tasks, not just the ones they'll primarily be doing. People get sick, take vacations, and sometimes even quit. Your business can't wait when that happens.

If you have thoughts on this subject, please opine below in the comments section. Your voice is welcome here.

P.S. If you want to play the game for old time's sake, you can find it here for free.