How to Boost Employee Engagement with Gamification

Gamification is a hot topic in the world of employee engagement right now—and for a good reason! Just look at the data:

• 61% of U.S. employees receive gamified training at work (TalentMS, 2019)
• In North America alone, the corporate sector has seen a 35.2% increase in gamified learning solutions in the past five years (Metaari, 2019)
• On average, 85% of employees show more engagement using gamified training tools versus more static counterparts (Finance online)

Gamification is the application of game mechanics and design principles to non-game contexts, such as the workplace.?Of course, gamified solutions are not limited to training videos or company leaderboards.

In recent years, gamified approaches have amplified marketing campaigns, skyrocketed the use of personal finance and language tools, and increased engagement across all social media platforms. If you're reading this on LinkedIn, ask yourself: Did you click this article because of the topic... or simply to erase that nagging red notification bubble? We won't tell.

Is gamification a magic solution to boost engagement?

In short—no. As with any workplace program, gamification has the potential to boost morale, engage employees, and accelerate onboarding time, but it can't achieve any of these goals without careful and strategic implementation.

In this article, we give some tips to consider when deploying this inherently human-centered tool to boost employee engagement. The following is based on an interview with head of digital,? Stephen McLaughlin .

Gamification in the Workplace

Employee engagement is a crucial component of any successful organization, including Do Tank . Engaged employees are more productive, more innovative, and more likely to stay with their employers for the long term. However, employee engagement is not always easy to achieve.

Many factors can influence how engaged employees are—including the level of job satisfaction, work environment, and the leadership style of managers.

One strategy we have deployed with our customers only in the last year is the use of gamification to boost employee engagement. By incorporating elements of game design into work activities, employers can make work more engaging, rewarding, and enjoyable for employees.

Tip #1 Set clear goals and objectives

To effectively use gamification to engage employees, it’s important to set clear goals and objectives for the program. What specific behaviors or outcomes do you want to encourage? For example, you may want to increase collaboration among team members, improve productivity, or encourage employees to take more initiative.

Once you have identified your goals, you can then design the gamification program to align with them. For example, if you want to encourage collaboration, you could create a game where employees earn points for working together on projects. If you want to improve productivity, you could create a game where employees earn rewards for completing tasks on time.

Tip #2 Make it fun and engaging

One of the key benefits of gamification is that it can make work more fun and engaging for employees. To achieve this, it’s important to design the program with the employee experience in mind. This means creating games and challenges that are enjoyable and rewarding to play.

To make the program more engaging, you could also incorporate elements of competition, such as leaderboards, badges, or rewards for top performers. This can create a sense of excitement and motivation among employees, as they strive to outperform their colleagues and earn recognition for their achievements.

Tip #3 Provide meaningful rewards

Rewards are an important component of gamification, as they provide a tangible incentive for employees to participate in the program. However, it’s important to ensure that the rewards are meaningful and relevant to the employees.

For example, if you’re running a gamification program to encourage healthy habits, you could offer rewards such as gym memberships, healthy snacks, or fitness trackers. If you’re running a program to encourage learning and development, you could offer rewards such as access to online courses, books, or conferences.

Tip #4 Provide feedback and recognition

In addition to rewards, it’s important to provide feedback and recognition to employees who participate in the gamification program. This can include acknowledging top performers, providing constructive feedback on areas for improvement, and celebrating milestones and achievements.

By providing feedback and recognition, you can help employees feel valued and appreciated, which can increase their engagement and motivation to participate in the program.

Tip #5 Make it accessible and inclusive

Finally, it’s crucial to ensure that the gamification program is accessible and inclusive for all employees. This means designing the program to accommodate different learning styles, skill levels, and cultural backgrounds.

To achieve this, you could provide multiple ways for employees to participate in the program, such as through mobile apps, online portals, or in-person activities. You could also provide training and support to help employees understand the rules of the game and how to participate effectively.

The Future of Gamification

Gamification can be a powerful tool for boosting employee engagement, motivation, and productivity. By designing engaging games and challenges, providing meaningful rewards and recognition, and making the program accessible and inclusive, employers can create a more engaging and rewarding work environment for their employees.

As we continue to seek new opportunities to help increase employee engagement for our clients, we ask the question:?How might we use gamification next?

Want to know about how gamifying your next training solution, event, or team chat? Learn how we can help at?Dotankdo.com.