Shigeru Miyamoto is one of video gaming's most influential and beloved icons. The father of Mario and Luigi has been the face of Nintendo for decades, having created some of the most important games and characters like Mario, Donkey Kong, Link/Zelda, and more. He has been a leader for The Big N for quite some time, and recently he talked with The New Yorker about his own leadership style, and what it will look like with passing down the Nintendo spirit to the next generation.
Miyamoto, who was recently recognized as a person of cultural merit in Japan, is often seen as a bundle of joy and happiness among fans and the gaming community. When he appears on stage with the Master Sword and a Hylian Shield in hand, he can be seen smiling ear to ear. When he toys around with fans by pretending to toss Pikmin plushies into the crowd, he creates laughs and joy. But apparently, Miyamoto is not all fun and games, even if his games are.
In being a leader for Nintendo, Miyamoto wears many hats. Along with being the creative leader, he sees himself as the team supporter. He must create ideas on a large scale, but also give exact detailed instruction. One moment Miyamoto is giving a tour of Super Mario World, and the next he is painting a compelling picture of his vision for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2. Because of all of this, he isn't always seen as the nicest person, but Miyamoto believes some of this is what it takes to be a leader.
I also believe that a shared feeling of success should come only after the players have actually enjoyed a game. Before that point, people might see me as a mean boss, trying to drive us through the rough patches. But I think that’s what dictates whether someone is a good leader or not.
Miyamoto, whose first game was developed over 40 years ago in 1979, claims that he can be a negative person and difficult to deal with in the eyes of Nintendo employees when going over exact details, but a pleasant and positive person when communicating the broader vision. Myamoto is aware of his strengths and weaknesses. And he also understands that there is a level of insecurity and worry when generating new experiences. He specifically tries to not shut down a person when working with them, and he works on creating positive experiences as people creatively work.
In speaking on that broader vision, Miyamoto believes that Nintendo's core idealogy is that it brings smiles to the faces of players. There's likely a reason why he has the reputation of being more easy-going and happy when discussing Nintendo's vision. He speaks of playing games with grandchildren, enjoying games as a family, and how Nintendo will always strive for that.
Miyamoto recently turned 68, but he believes Nintendo is in good hands. He and the team have worked diligently over the years to ensure that the Nintendo spirit will be passed down properly. Nintendo, and Miyamoto specifically, have created countless moments of joy and happiness for its fans, and Miyamoto is working on continuing that. " If anything, I wish I could have provided more cheer, more laughter."
Source: The New Yorker