Gamification: Changing the Future of Corporate Training

Why it works

Gamification is effective because it changes the way that employees interact with their work, as well as with their coworkers. Building relationships with colleagues makes a person feel more committed to the workplace and encourages them to collaborate.

Engagement is the overarching theme that makes gamification as successful as it has proven to be. Games are fun. When the mechanics of games are applied to everyday topics, they take on a whole new level of interest.

When corporate training consists solely of a large group of coworkers sitting in a classroom-like setting, listening to a lecture about a topic concerning their work, less engagement occurs. Learning isn’t happening.

On the other hand, when that training consists of a game-like activity in which there is an element of friendly competition and a sense of teamwork, the outcome is far different. Employees are interested and they are having fun, which makes them begin to care about what they are learning.

Staying power

Gamification that is done well has the capability to continue producing good results for the companies who utilize it to train their employees.

How can it be done well?

• Know your audience. Some of the learners will be very comfortable with technology, having been raised with it. Others aren’t as familiar and may be intimidated by it. Have a feel for the individual needs of your employees. Try to reach a large cross-section, keeping in mind that their enjoyment is what will keep them engaged and deepen learning.
• Use real-life situations. Giving learners the chance to make choices and see how the consequences of those choices play out is a valuable learning experience. When the outcomes of decisions aren’t acceptable, the employee can go back and try to approach the issue from a different angle.
• Chunk the content. Comprehension is improved when the information is broken up into shorter chunks. The brain can more easily retain smaller amounts of material that are focused on one concept. Chunking will not be as effective, if you address more than one idea.
• Encourage teamwork. A feeling of camaraderie will have a positive effect on how a person views their job, their coworkers, and the company itself. Make collaboration a part of the training process. The understanding of a concept is greatly deepened when discussion happens and peers can see issues from a variety of perspectives.

As millennials continue to join the workforce in greater numbers, the growth of technology will expand and the benefits of gamification in corporate training will become more and more apparent.