Gamification in the workplace is a relatively new concept, but one that is quickly gaining traction as more and more employers look for ways to engage and motivate their employees. The global gamification market is predicted to reach $58.8 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth rate of 26.8% CAGR, so if your business isn’t already riding the wave, now is the time to jump on.
But what exactly is workplace gamification?
Workplace gamification is using game-like mechanics and principles in a non-game setting to achieve specific business goals. Like any good game, workplace gamification requires careful planning and design to be successful. The key is to create an engaging experience that employees will want to participate in without overwhelming them or taking them away from their work.
Think of it like this: If you were trying to get people to come to your restaurant, you might offer a discount for those who check in on Facebook or Yelp. If you were trying to increase employee productivity, you might introduce a leaderboard where the top performers are recognised. These are both examples of gamification.
When done right, workplace gamification can lead to increased employee satisfaction, higher retention rates, and better performance. And since engaged employees are said to be up to 21% more productive than disengaged ones, it’s definitely worth considering for your business.
Benefits of workplace gamification
1. Increased engagement
One of the most important benefits of workplace gamification is that it can lead to increased employee engagement. When used correctly, gamification can make even the most mundane tasks feel like an exciting challenge. This increased engagement can lead to higher levels of productivity as well as improved job satisfaction.
2. Improved communication and knowledge sharing
Workplace gamification can also improve communication between employees and managers. By introducing elements such as leaderboards and badges, you can encourage employees to share their successes (and failures) to learn and grow from them. This open communication can help create a more positive work environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas and speaking up when they need help.
In addition, you will create a technology-friendly and competent workforce with transferable skills by implementing games into everyday work activities.
3. Boosted morale
Happy employees are productive employees. One of the best ways to boost employee morale is through recognition and rewards, which are key components of gamification. When used properly, workplace gamification can help create a fun and energising work environment that will motivate and engage your employees.
Not only that, but 87% of employees who took part in the 2019 TalentLMS survey said that game elements at work made them feel more socially connected and provided a sense of belonging, with 82% stating that gamification gave them a sense of meaning and purpose in their workplace.
4. Improved recruitment and retention
Another crucial benefit of workplace gamification is that it can improve recruitment and retention rates. In today’s competitive job market, candidates are looking for more than just a paycheck; they’re looking for a position that will challenge and engage them on a daily basis.
The TalentLMS gamification survey found that 78% of people would find a company more desirable to work for if they used gamification in the recruitment process. So by incorporating gamification into your workplace, you can show candidates that your company is committed to innovation and employee development, making you more attractive to top talent.
Related Reading: How to Build Employee Engagement, Satisfaction, and Increase Staff Retention
Tips for implementing workplace gamification
1. Define your goals
What do you hope to achieve by implementing workplace gamification? Do you want employees to hit specific targets? Do you want to encourage collaboration or friendly competition? Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can start planning how best to use gamification in your workplace to achieve those goals.
You should also let your people know exactly what to expect, such as
- The goal of the game
- The criteria they have to meet to win the game
- What the rewards are for winning, coming second, and so on
- The benefits for them and the business
- The rules and what may get them disqualified.
2. Keep it simple
Don’t try to do too much at once — you’ll only overwhelm employees (and yourself!). Gradually integrate the games and see how they go before adding anything else.
Start with implementing gamification in your training processes. Instead of using presentations and manuals, create online mini-courses with quizzes or a scoring system. Or use interactive elements in your training to increase participation and boost engagement that will help the training stick in the brain. There is also a correlation between gamification in training and employee engagement. When gamified elements are added to training, motivation climbs to 83%, and boredom drops to just 10%.
3. Make sure there’s a clear connection between the game and the goal
Employees should be able to see how their participation in the game helps further the company’s objectives. Otherwise, they’re likely to lose interest quickly.
4. Ensure that all employees can take part
All your employees should be able to participate in the workplace gamification you implement, not just those with easily quantifiable sales targets, but those with supporting roles too. Consider ways to recognise everyone’s achievements and base your rewards on your staff accordingly. For example:
- Use KPI benchmarks to measure success as they are personal to each employee
- Set a workplace challenge
- Use training courses as a tool for active learning
- Give public recognition to employees for instant feedback and reward.
If your staff work from home or hybrid work, ensure they can access the games remotely from the technology they use. The games you choose should be accessible for everyone, no matter where they are based, their role, or their time zone.
5. Get feedback from employees and track the success of gamification in your business
Design an analytics dashboard to determine the number of employees that took part, how many of them completed their goals, and how overall performance improved during or immediately after the gamification programme was implemented. Regularly check in with employees and see how they feel about the games you’ve implemented.
If something isn’t working or if employees are getting bored, adjust your rewards initiatives to better match your business goals and your employees’ KPIs.
6. Have fun!
The whole point of workplace gamification is to make work more enjoyable for everyone involved. So don’t take things too seriously — have fun with it and encourage your employees to do the same. According to a 2019 survey by Talent LMS, 89% of employees think they would be more productive at work if it were more game-like, so introducing workplace gamification could be a huge win for both employees and the business,
<cta>Related Reading: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace
7. Make the incentives worth playing for
You don’t have to give out Ferraris as prizes for your staff, but do give a good incentive for playing the game. These might be
- Money or vouchers
- An extra day off
- A monetary gift to the charity of your employee’s choice
- Or even just good old recognition. Receiving a commendation from the big boss is still massively incentivising.
Examples of gamification you can use in your workplace
Given the proven benefits, there’s no time like the present when implementing workplace gamification in your business.
Here are the top five most motivating gamification elements used in industries worldwide.
- Rewards can be virtual or physical such as money, vouchers or time off.
- Badges are digital rewards that are the workplace equivalent of getting an Xbox achievement or Playstation trophy. They can be given for pretty much anything you desire. Starting with basic badges for new starters who complete fundamental tasks, to achievement badges for more complex tasks or for doing something for the first time (e.g. the first sale or first article published). Leading up to award badges for exclusive one-opportunity rewards for, say, being the top salesperson of the month or passing a qualification. If you’re still chuffed about gaining that scout or guide badge for tying a knot, you’ll get why badges are so motivating.
- Points or scores can motivate continued use of a product (website, software, app, etc.) or mastering a specific action until reaching a higher level.
- Leaderboards are very useful for creating competition among colleagues, and the reward of seeing their name at the top of the chart might be all the motivation they need. It’s second only to winning the World Cup (possibly).
- Levels show the user’s progress and stimulate the desire to gain a more challenging game level, especially in training, where improvement must always be visible and measurable.
There are plenty of ways to implement these types of gamification processes in your workplace, depending on the type of business you run.
However, according to the TalentLMS survey, employees would like more gamification in their corporate training software and communication apps. These are two areas that aren’t directly related to the employees’ everyday tasks per se but focus on additional projects that allow them to develop their personal growth and skills.
Related Reading: Apps for Work Productivity: Top 10 Apps and Tools
Workplace gamification is a great way to boost employee engagement and productivity — but only if it’s done right! By following these tips, you can ensure that your workplace gamification programs are successful and help your business achieve its goals.
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