Gamification Boosts Productivity in the Workplace – Here are 8 Tips to Try

A recent study by TalentLMS revealed that 88% of employees who participate in gamification at work feel more productive and happier as a result. More generally, gamified techniques are linked with lower stress levels too, which has further company-wide benefits such as reduced sick leave and staff turnover rates.

To help employers implement gamification at work, Neil Draycott, Head of Solutions & Architecture at Business Systems Limited, has pulled together eight tips to try:

1. Set clear goals and rewards 

Start by giving employees clear goals and follow up with rewards for achieving those goals, meaning that there is a clear and tangible motivator. For example, this could be in the form of badges, points or levels.

These rewards should be meaningful and valuable to your employees. Rather than simply guessing what they’ll like and choosing random rewards, start by asking your employees what is meaningful to them, as doing this will only drive better results in the long-run.

2. Create a leaderboard or dashboard

Creating a leaderboard is a great way to visually display the progress of employees moving forward towards their goals. Whether it’s a physical board or an online platform, it’s a good idea to update and circulate the leaderboard regularly around the team so that employees can see how well they are progressing against each other. By doing this publicly, it will help to create a healthy sense of competition in the team.

3. Use gamification software

There are many software platforms available that can be used to gamify your workplace. These platforms allow you to create custom games and challenges that are tailored to your specific goals and objectives.

The software doesn’t need to come at a great cost for the businesses either, as there are many options available for free.

4. Offer challenges and competitions 

Offer employees challenges and competitions that are related to their work. This could be on an individual basis or a team-based exercise, either way, it’s a good idea to test it on a task that’s typically mundane or uninspiring, to spike more interest. The winners of these challenges and competitions should be rewarded with prizes that are meaningful to them.

5. Provide feedback and recognition

Provide regular feedback and recognition to employees for their efforts and accomplishments. Effective feedback, both positive and negative, is valuable in the workplace as it promotes personal and professional growth. This could be verbal, written or via public recognition in team meetings.

6. Encourage collaboration and teamwork

Encourage collaboration and teamwork among employees by creating games and challenges that require them to work together and collaborate. Doing this can help to foster a sense of community and will likely deepen the bond and rapport that people have with their colleagues.

7. Make it fun

Gamification should be fun and enjoyable for employees and shouldn’t feel like additional work. By creating games and challenges that are engaging and entertaining, employees should feel inspired, not stressed.

Avoid tasks that are overly complex or too difficult as this could see motivation drop off too soon. On top of this, try and determine the balance between gamification and work - adding too much pressure onto individuals could have an adverse effect.

8. Monitor and evaluate

The goal is to improve productivity and morale so it’s important to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your gamification efforts, and ensure it’s working in the most efficient way possible. Doing this regularly will help to identify areas for improvement. 

When done right, gamification can be one of the most powerful tools for creating a positive working environment and putting your brand on track to become an ‘employer of choice’, with lower levels of stress, boosted morale and higher retention rates.