Gamify Work? Some thoughts...

What is Gamification

You may have heard of the term "gamification" or seen it used in a variety of contexts. But what is gamification, really? Gamification is the use of game thinking and game mechanics in non-game contexts to engage users and solve problems. It's not actually about playing games; it's about taking the gaming mindset and applying it to work. Gamification uses game mechanics to motivate and engage people by encouraging them to learn, use a system, or self-correct behavior. It uses feedback loops and rewards, whether they be points/badges/levels or trophies/medals/stickers, to make an activity more appealing. At its core, gamification is about play—but don't confuse gamification with games themselves!

Why Games are Fun

It's true. There's a huge amount of research into the benefits that games provide to players, including research that shows that gamifying work can improve productivity and decrease dropout rates among students. Biologists have even speculated that the enhanced cognitive function provided by playing games may in fact be an evolutionary advantage, as it makes humans more able to solve problems and adapt to new environments. In short, we're just as fun at work as we are at play—and here's some ways to apply that positive thinking to your workplace without feeling like you're wasting time on frivolous stuff.

Work as a Game

The simplest way to gamify work is to break down your project into smaller, manageable steps—like a video game level. With each step completed, you get one step closer to your goal. No matter how big the task ahead of you, taking it in smaller pieces can be much more manageable than tackling it all at once. Each time a step is complete, reward yourself with something small and easy—like a piece of chocolate or your favorite beverage.

While it's important to remember that being competitive is not the same as being ruthless, there are ways that healthy competition can motivate you. If you work in an office setting where everyone has access to the same information, pool together a group of coworkers who want to be held accountable for their performance and track progress weekly or monthly on a whiteboard or chart. You could even make “bets” (coffee or chocolate) about which team will outperform the other—just don't forget that if you lose, there's always next time!

Giving yourself rewards for meeting certain goals or hitting specific milestones along the way will also help keep up your motivation and give you incentive to keep working hard as time goes by. What would be meaningful prizes for you? Write down all of them (even if they seem extravagant), then pick out a few that are realistic ones and set them as goals for yourself. Once those are achieved, celebrate accordingly!

What's the Point?

The point is fun. How many times have you found yourself wondering, “What's the point?”

When it comes to gamifying work, it's best to start by not thinking about work. Instead, think about why we do everything else in life. Why do we sleep? We sleep because it makes us happy and lets us function at our very best in all other areas of our lives. That isn't always easy—sometimes I really just want to stay up until 3am with my friends devouring buckets of ice cream—but I know that when I wake up at 7am for work the next morning, I'm going to be happier and more productive if I get a full eight hours of sleep.

Why do we eat? Because eating makes us happy! And if we don't eat, we're hungrier, which makes us less happy; plus then our bodies are sluggish from a lack of nutrients and we can't function as well in other areas of life (and let's face it: weight gain won't make anyone feel great). You see where this is going: The same applies for exercise, hygiene and appropriate levels of stress relief (all key components for leading a healthy life).

How to Play at Work

Do you want to play at work? Of course, you do! There are many ways in which an employee might incorporate play into the work outline. Some of these options should be taken with a grain of salt.

• Play with your coworkers. Your peers can be fun to hang out with even when it's not happy hour.
• Play with your boss. You and your boss have more in common than you think, so give him or her a chance to be crazy and wild!
• Play by yourself. There's no shame in playing alone, especially if it means playing against yourself and trying to beat your own personal best.
• Play with challenges. Tough times call for tough measures, so why not challenge yourself? It may just make work more rewarding for you in the long run!
• Play to win. Winning is always more fun than losing, no matter what kind of game it is that you're playing!