When the usual models of staff training have been tested, the ways to raise the corporate spirit have been exhausted, it is necessary to look for new formats. Teaching, learning and inspiring the team to new achievements in advanced companies is now accepted effortlessly. Literally.
The complex word «gamification» has imperceptibly and firmly entered our lives. We do not notice how we collect coupons in a hypermarket with excitement in order to buy a “very necessary” tenth frying pan with them. How to collect points and get gold statuses in taxi apps.
“What is our life? A game!» The classic hardly imagined that in the first quarter of the XNUMXst century his phrase would become a model of the world. The game penetrates into many areas of our lives. Even in such serious ones as business, where, it would seem, there is definitely no time for entertainment. But it is through game mechanisms that new knowledge and skills are best assimilated, business coach Anastasia Shemonaeva is convinced.
“Gamification is sometimes aimed at external processes — this is, as a rule, interaction with customers, buyers. And there is gamification of internal processes that can be built, changed, developed through one or another game format, ”explains the expert.
But there is something that unites both directions — this is interest. It is thanks to him that games attract the attention of both customers and employees. Interest is “seasoned” with excitement, profit and the desire to become a winner.
“Any process will get bored sooner or later,” says Anastasia Shemonaeva. — Fatigue builds up. Even regular staff training does not help. For example, in a certain company, classic business trainings have been successfully working for many years. But gradually, leaders and HR managers begin to notice that people apply for training, but they never reach the training itself. And all because motivation and emotional involvement disappear. The company begins to look for new ways to cheer up the team. And that’s where gaming tools come in.
From quest to business simulations
But what makes the game successful? It definitely has an element of competition. Since childhood, we have been familiar with the desire to win, win, get around on points, become the first, score the ball into the opponent’s goal.
“In the course of the game, interest in the topic grows, the desire to gain new knowledge. A person gets a taste because a good game captivates, — the business coach is sure. — It helps not only to achieve the goal, but also to know your capabilities. It is important for us to praise ourselves — that’s what a fine fellow I am, I made such a tricky move, scored so many points or won in the final.
Also, games are usually funny, humor is one of the main components of the gameplay. There are so many serious things and problems in life. And laughter helps to relax, gives energy. “When there is a lot of energy, it is easier to memorize information on the topic that we study while playing,” explains Anastasia Shemonaeva.
Stress blocks creative impulses, creative thinking. And the game helps to release them
The format of the game depends on the goals and objectives set by the company. For example, quests help in team building. Employees need to pass certain “tests”, develop algorithms, find solutions. Perhaps they will be given a specific production task, or during the game it will be necessary to generate ideas. Sometimes business games are based on real business processes of specific companies. But more often they are universal for everyone.
“For example, managers need to learn how to manage subordinates,” the expert explains. “They are on the “playing field” facing situations that can arise in real corporate life. Or the game becomes a tool for evaluating employees. Play reduces stress levels. Getting involved in the game process, people forget that they are being evaluated. The results of the «players» are higher than when passing the test or internal exam. Because stress blocks creative impulses, creative thinking. And the game helps to release them.
Business simulations are business games that are as close as possible to the realities of the company as a whole or its individual divisions. Often such games are developed for a specific customer, his production and products. This game cannot be used in another corporation. She is an exclusive product. For example, all new employees participate in the game and, thanks to it, they learn the internal rules, the algorithm of production processes, business tasks, and corporate values.
“These games work better than any instruction for beginners. It is easier to memorize information by playing,” concludes Anastasia Shemonaeva.
The main task is to work out the skill, and not cause additional experiences.
Game distance learning allows you to complete tasks in an online format, get to a certain level. All employees are involved in the process, they compare each other’s levels and scores. The competitive element kicks in again.
But in games there are not only winners, but also losers. Isn’t it too painful for employees and will it not play a cruel joke, demotivating an outsider, instead of inspiring them to labor exploits?
«Vice versa. There are no losers in business games, because their main task is to develop a skill, and not cause additional feelings. The work process is already often associated with negative experiences, inevitable for a particular activity. For example, sales managers often experience stress during cold calls,” Anastasia Shemonaeva gives an example. — This is when you have to call potential customers on the telephone base and offer a service or product. Sellers face rejection, rudeness.
In a safe game environment, they learn to work with failures and in a real situation they will be able to apply the developed algorithms. Then the abandoned pipe will not become a disaster. It is these skills that are developed by my author’s business board game “Managing Client Resistance”. And besides — and this is the fundamental difference between a business game — the host always monitors the emotional state of the players.
Gamification of processes
In many companies, each employee has a plan that he fulfills day after day, month after month. Fulfilled — exhaled, fulfilled — exhaled. The employee is under constant pressure. Emotional burnout in such companies is very high.
“If the requirements that are required for a business result are framed as a game, then the level of stress will decrease, and burnout will be avoided. Suppose an employee not only fulfills the plan, but also earns points, moves forward and at the end of the year receives some kind of bonus or “bun” from the employer — a trip to another city or country, a trip to a sanatorium or a valuable gift. He does the same as usual, but he has an additional moral and material incentive. He works and at the same time enjoys the process and sees the result,” says the business coach.
Only personal interest can be a real incentive
But are corporate games appropriate everywhere? And to what extent is this activity voluntary? For a game to truly become team-building, stimulating and interesting, it must be carefully prepared. Inform the team about it in advance so that they are waiting for it, looking forward to it with excitement. If the leader is faced with resistance, it is worth considering whether he picked the right game, whether his employees are too busy. If they don’t have time or they are already burnt out, it’s pointless to play the game.
Until now, some enterprises use the system of fines. It is clear that an employee does not want to spend the whole day on “entertainment” if he then has to work on weekends in order to fulfill the plan and not lose money.
“I met with managers who believe that the tougher they are, the better their subordinates work. This is not true. Only personal interest can become a real incentive. Or there is another extreme: the boss started the game, but does not follow the process. «You play, and at the end we are waiting for the result.» It is not right. If we want the game to increase the effectiveness of the team and the success of the business, we need to keep our finger on the pulse, be attentive to the mood of people, to their emotional state. And the best thing is to invite a trainer who knows how to professionally introduce gamification into business processes,” says Anastasia Shemonaeva.