LM306 - Confessions of an AuD Dungeon Master

Abstract:
Audiological practice is like playing a tabletop role-playing game, the best known being Dungeons and Dragons. With AudiologyNow! being held in Seattle, where the parent company of D&D, Wizards of the Coast, is headquartered, I've made the analogy of audiology practice management and working with others in terms of the game, and how we can all learn from our own individual experiences in life, applying those principles towards making our efforts as effective as possible.  Personal interactions with patients and co-workers can make all the difference when it comes to our success -- or lead to a Total Party Kill.

Summary:
I've played Dungeons and Dragons longer than I've been in the profession of audiology.  While it's "just a game", it also teaches significant life skills -- time management, learning rules, long-term planning, and, in particular, how to properly interact with others.  If anything, that last area is the most important towards being successful in life and in any career.

In this presentation, analogies comparing gameplay and management with working in an audiological practice will be made, including (1) learning the rules but knowing when they don't apply; (2) time management; (3) knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and how to exploit both; (4) role-playing and interacting with others; (5) Managing and guiding others; (6) providing the proper narrative to educate your audience; (7) Leveling up -- motivating your co-workers to always be striving for more; (8) it's a big world to explore, so always be learning; (9) Watch out for the curve balls that patients and co-workers can throw you, and how to be up to the challenge for when it happens; (10) Total Party Kills will occur -- how to deal with them and move on.

Thematically, Seattle has become the new capital for roleplaying games and Dungeons and Dragons.  Since AudiologyNow! is being hosted there in 2023, I felt this was an interesting and different take to present at an audiology conference where our interactions with others are paramount to our success. Life experiences help to shape us and can teach us how to succeed in life, whether it be playing such games, participating in sports activities, involving ourselves in music or theater events, etc.  The goal of this presentation is hardly to attempt to recruit the audience into playing D&D, but rather to apply their own previous life experiences in situations where they might have adversity and meet those challenges head-on. The presentation will be of particular use to managers and owners of audiology practices (the Dungeon Masters), but also employee professionals (the players) to slay the dragons that get in their way of rescuing the princess.