Gamification is not just for gamers or nerds. It is all around us. More importantly, it can drastically increase the engagement of your audience. So, what is gamification? Simply put, it is applying gaming mechanics and design to non-game elements. This could be in the form of promoting competition through scoring points or creating tasks for your team to complete. Gamification can be used in training, communications, and marketing. With all that’s going on in the world, we wanted to focus on gamification as it relates to increasing the engagement of your recently created remote team.
There are tons of articles on the benefits of gamification. Just know, it’s fun, interactive, and improves engagement. Our focus is to provide some ideas on how to add gaming elements into your team’s interactions.
1. Quiz or Survey during a video conference.
You could ask serious questions or make it fun. Track points for correct answers to quiz questions to promote competition. Or show survey results to help people better understand the group dynamic. Use it to break up all the talking. It could also act as talking points during your conversations. Get creative. You could ask an open ended question such as, “what is the most creative way you have reached out to a customer during this shutdown?” Then have people vote (survey) for the best or funniest idea. There are free apps or you could have one created. You could also use a program like Adobe Connect if you are looking for more of a Virtual-Led Training solution.
2. Create an actual game.
Intructor-Led Training is now out of the question for who knows how long. See if you can’t create games around learning. This could be in the form of an actual HTML game that can be sent directly to your employees. The sample here helps employees identify correct Personal Protection Equipment to be worn on construction sites. On the other hand, it may not need any development at all. For instance, you can help your employees create a great work environment at home through a game. Take a picture of your office or, on a video call, show them your office. Then have them identify 6 things that should be removed or adjusted to improve the environment. From there, have them email their findings or write it in the chat pod.
3. Complete tasks.
Most games require you to complete a task for a reward or to progress. What are some tasks that could help unite your team or accomplish business goals? Get input from your team on what would be beneficial to them. Then create a timeline of when these tasks need to be completed. If appropriate, provide incentives for completing these goals. Failure to complete a task could result in having additional activities to be performed. Gamify it even more by adding cards, dice, or a spinner to the mix. You can have each task associated with a card or a place on a spinner. Then each person chooses a card or the wheel is spun for them. Whatever is selected is their task for that week. For example, the Queen of Hearts could have them record themselves singing a Frozen song.
4. Establish a leaderboard or progress chart.
A great way to promote participation is through competition. Leaderboards create competition between everyone on your team. Progress charts encourages competition with oneself. Points can be given for completing tasks, certain interactions with the team, or correct answers to quiz questions. Everyone’s points can be displayed on a team page or emailed out. A progress chart could be as simple as inputting the number of daily calls in a spreadsheet everyday. Then converting that into a chart every week or month. You can choose to have it displayed publicly or only between you and the employee. Incentives can be provided for daily, weekly, or monthly leaders such as the top 3.
Most teams being remote provides an amazing opportunity to explore new ways to interact and engage with one another. For help with gamification contact us at solutions@krogelmedia.com or visit our website.