In this article, I’m going to talk about the importance of communication and what it means for judges who wish to advance to Level Three. I’ll discuss what good communication skills are, why it’s important that you, as a Level Three candidate, should have these skills, examples of excellent communication (and, conversely, poor communication), and how to improve your ability to communicate.
Good Communication Skills
Let’s define good communication skills by function: an L3 candidate with adequate communication skills will be able to express themselves clearly, and in English, both when acting as a judge – particularly, as a Team Lead – at an event, and when engaging in discussion on the Internet (e.g., the Judge forums, IRC channels, social media).
A good communicator will be able to express themselves such that they are easily understood by judges worldwide, and to audiences with a broad range of experience: casual players, competitive players, new judges, and senior judges alike. They will be able to express complex concepts without creating confusion, and will also be sure to listen well when communicating with other judges, players, and staff.
Why this is Important
When judging at an event, you can’t expect every judge, player, and staff member to speak your language. English is the standard language of Magic, and while we don’t expect all L3s to speak fluently, you’ll still be expected to deliver information in a clear, efficient manner. Without the ability to communicate well, the potential for botched rulings and incorrect instructions grows exponentially.
Good Communication
When communicating with people online, they will take care to use proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar in their writing. They will break long blocks of text into paragraphs to make their writing easier to read. They will also exercise good judgment in what they’re expressing; their writing will exclude insults, ridicule, or other forms of disrespect.
Bad Communication
A judge who communicates poorly on the Internet will not take care with their writing. It will be riddled with errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Capitalization may or may not occur and, if it does, may be applied inconsistently. Opinions will be presented as arguments, the tone of the writing may appear aggressive towards or dismissive of its audience, and readers may struggle to understand what the writer actually means.
How to Make it Better
Public speaking can be an enormously stressful experience. It is an act of vulnerability: the expression of one’s opinions toward an audience that may criticize them. If the speaker is not easily understood, they may feel insecure, assuming that it is their fault that their point did not come across clearly. Stress and anxiety are common and understandable reactions.
The same applies with written communication: instead of hastily dashing off your opinion on something, take your time to fully consider what you’re saying. Spellcheck is absolutely your friend. The temptation to say something clever and witty is understandable, but your audience will definitely appreciate your additional care. Judges are a passionate and intelligent bunch, so tempers can flare when discussing contentious topics – resist the urge to give in to that.
Tying it all Together
When evaluating your communication skills in preparation for L3, it helps to slow down. Think about what you’re writing. Think about what you’re about to say. Taking a few moments to compose your message – and compose yourself – will return huge dividends when it comes time to communicate.