The Many Ways Gamification Helps Train and Engage Your Users

Although you may be familiar with the term gamification, it may be unclear how your organization can utilize this type of app productively. Gamification has many benefits, and according to Gartner, it will be used by 40% of all US organizations in some form or fashion by the end of this year.

Whatever gaming app you choose, remember high user engagement is your ultimate goal.

Today’s blog post will focus on the definitions of gamification, the features of a great game and ways to use it in your company, association and/or next event.

What is gamification?

Gamification is the application of the typical elements of game playing -- such as point scoring, competition and rules of play -- with the intention of encouraging engagement with a product, service or event.

What makes a game successful?

Just like the games you played as a child or your children digitally today, games played in the corporate world need to have many of the same fun and challenging elements.

Here is a summation of the important items that need to be in your gaming app:

1.     Does the game have a personalized element to it?

Whether you are playing a board game like Monopoly or a gaming app like Mario Carts, each participant has their own personalized piece or avatar. Personalization allows participants to have an emotional connection to that piece or character.

2.     What about a narrative and feedback?

Is someone telling the game’s story and helping bond the relationship between the user and the character? In addition, is the app telling the user whether they are completing the right or wrong action and rewarding or penalizing them for that action? You need both of these for an effective game.

3.     Does the game have a goal?

Do you know when the game is over? Is it challenging enough, but not too difficult? Is the game concretely tied to your business objectives?

4.     Are you prepared to use the app early and often?

Gamification works best when you introduce it early and use it often with attendees or employees. Don’t give it to attendees when they are half-way through your event or with employees on a haphazard basis.

5.     Are the rewards worth it?

Every game has rewards, even if it only the bragging rights that a certain team are winners. What are the rewards of your game and are they worth the time and effort associated with playing it?

6.     Is the game tied to social?

It is one thing to have bragging rights within the event, training session or company sales meeting, but it is of greater worth to be able to tell the user’s social media connections.

Gamification Uses

Here are some examples of ways you can use gamification to engage employees and attendees:

·      Challenge teams to raise money for a charity in which each one competes against the other to meet certain monetary objectives;

·      Give attendees event challenges and track their progress. Give them various rewards along the way;

·      Deliver training modules that measure user knowledge before and after the training occurs and doesn’t let employees leave a module until they have learned what they need to;

·      Give new employees the onboarding process which will include a checklist of the things to complete and a reward when they finished the list.

Key Takeaway

Remember, gamification is a tool that provides learning and fun and can enhance the meeting and event experience. However, in order for it to be very successful, you need all the elements listed above, as well as, a clear understanding of the knowledge base and expectations of your audience.

About the Author

De-de Mulligan is President and Chief Content Writer for Mulligan Management Group. Please go to her company’s website for a portfolio of her blog posts.