Gamification has been a bit of a buzzword over the last few years, but have you ever considered how you could implement it in your workplace?
What is Gamification?
Great question, here’s the answer as Google sees it.
Gamification
ˌɡeɪmɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
noun: Gamification
- the application of typical elements of game playing (e.g. point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity, typically as an online marketing technique to encourage engagement with a product or service.
“Gamification is exciting because it promises to make the hard stuff in life fun”
How We See Gamification
In essence Gamification is turning something otherwise boring or tedious into a game.
For example let’s say you are a first year medical student and you’re having trouble learning the physiology of the human body. Well make a game of it. The Apple and Android app store are crammed full of apps that will test your knowledge and help you learn.
It’s so much fun in fact that my kids started playing it and gained a knowledge of the bones, organs and muscles that even Herophilos would have been proud of.
How We Use Gamification
In early January we were approached by a previous client who already knew about how we used our app for creating treasure hunt events for corporate use.
She asked us if we could create a package that could be run indoors in a small room that would take what would otherwise be a standard “Death by PowerPoint” presentation and turn it into something fun, competitive and interactive.
Of course we said yes.
Our client supplied us with questions and images they wanted used and within a few days we had crafted together a series of branded challenges and questions that when activated would make the players not only want to get the question right, but also know the correct answer if they were incorrect.
All the challenges were activated by scanning QR codes within our app. These were places around the meeting room stuck to walls tables chairs and fire extinguishers.
On our first event our client was presenting to a buyer that had seen it all before. Reps and sales teams come to their door on a daily basis and it was going to take something different for them to be impresses.
Over an hour we ran the “game” again and again for different groups. Each time the players were asking if they were winning and begging us for the answers. They scoured the clients media and website to ensure that they were entering the correct answers!
Throughout the event our clients reps were on hand to offer help and advice and in turn that helped them to develop relationships with each of their clients staff members.
Our mini games were very popular and very effective at creating a differential in scores as most are just about achievable. By the end of the event our client was delighted, head office was showing an interest and we were booked for more presentations over the rest of the year.
How Could You Use Gamification?
Well, have a think about your day to day presentations. Inductions are notoriously tedious as can be health and safety updates and marketing plans. All of these can be gamified, each becoming something that people want to get involved in.
We look forward to helping you engage your audiences!
