Ep. 53: Gamifying Change

Level Up Your Workplace: Using Gamification to Drive Meaningful Change

Welcome, change agents and curious minds! In a recent episode of the Harmonious Workplaces podcast, hosts Rich Cruz, Sharyl Volpe, and Ben Kleinman dove deep into a fascinating topic: gamification in driving change. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your team engaged and motivated during periods of transition, the answer might just involve borrowing a few tricks from the world of games.

As Ben Kleinman, a change expert on the podcast, aptly put it, gamification is another great tool in your tool belt to help make change a little bit easier and maybe even a little bit more fun. But what exactly is it?

Defining the Game: What is Gamification?

Ben provides a straightforward definition: gamification is the use of game design elements—such as points, badges, leaderboards, and storytelling—in non-game contexts. The goal is to tap into both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. This approach leverages the power of competition, collaboration, achievement, and, yes, even fun, to drive engagement.

Rich Cruz further elaborated on this by citing a research-backed definition: gamification is “a process of enhancing a service with (motivational) affordances for gameful experiences in order to support user’s overall value creation”. In simpler terms, you’re creating a situation where employees are motivated to participate and see the value in the change process.

The Power-Ups: When Gamification Works for Change

The podcast explored several compelling examples of how gamification can be a powerful ally in driving change:

• Boosting Motivation and Engagement: Gamification can inject much-needed energy into what might otherwise be perceived as a tedious or even painful process. The thrill of earning a badge, climbing a leaderboard, or simply completing a task for an immediate reward can be highly motivating.
• Real-World Inspiration: Rich shared his personal experience with the DDP Yoga app, highlighting how points, leaderboards, and tangible rewards like t-shirts and a personalized video kept him engaged in his fitness journey for years. This illustrates how effectively gamification can foster long-term engagement by tapping into a desire for personal progress and achievement.
• Professional Development: Ben pointed out how gamification is being used in training platforms like Salesforce Trailhead, where earning points and badges signifies the acquisition of new skills and competencies. This public recognition can not only motivate individuals but also make their progress visible to managers and the wider organization, potentially opening doors for new opportunities.
• Leveraging Influencers: The hosts discussed the concept of “referent power,” where well-liked and respected individuals within an organization can lead the way in adopting new changes. By getting these “champions” on board and recognizing their efforts through gamified elements, you can encourage broader adoption. This aligns with the leadership principle of “model the way”.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: While individual achievements are often a part of gamification, the podcast also touched on the potential for team-based challenges and rewards, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Game Over? When Gamification Might Not Be the Right Strategy

However, the podcast hosts also cautioned against the indiscriminate use of gamification, highlighting scenarios where it could be detrimental:

• Changes with High Personal Stakes: When a change involves potential job losses or significant negative personal impact, introducing gamification can feel insensitive and even manipulative. As Ben stated, in situations like a reduction in force, it’s best to avoid any kind of gamification.
• Unhealthy Competition: Setting up a competitive environment where employees are pitted against each other in a way that feels unfair or cutthroat can backfire, fostering resentment and undermining team cohesion. Rich used the analogy of “Thunderdome,” emphasizing that a win-lose scenario where one person’s gain is another’s loss is rarely effective in the long run.
• Ignoring Cultural Differences: The podcast touched upon the difference between individualistic and collectivist societies. A gamified approach that heavily emphasizes individual competition might resonate in more individualistic cultures but could alienate those who prioritize team success.
• Risk of Demotivation and Sabotage: If the “game” is perceived as unfair, the rewards are not valued, or individuals feel they have no chance of success, gamification can actually demotivate employees. In extreme cases, it could even lead to negative behaviors like sabotage.
• Game Fatigue: Just like any initiative, the novelty of gamification can wear off over time, leading to a decrease in engagement. Change managers need to be mindful of this and consider how to keep the gamified elements fresh and relevant.

Key Takeaways for Change Leaders

So, how can you effectively leverage gamification to drive positive change in your organization? Here are some key insights from the Harmonious Workplaces podcast:

• Know Your Audience: Understand your employees’ motivations, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. Tailor your gamification strategies to resonate with the majority of your team.
• Focus on Healthy Competition and Collaboration: If using competition, ensure it’s framed in a positive and supportive way, or consider team-based challenges to encourage collaboration.
• Be Mindful of the Context: Gamification is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Carefully consider the nature of the change and whether a gamified approach is appropriate.
• Keep it Fun and Meaningful: The game elements should be enjoyable and tied to meaningful outcomes that employees value.
• Evaluate and Adapt: Continuously monitor the effectiveness of your gamification initiatives and be willing to experiment and adjust your approach based on feedback and results.

As Ben wisely concluded, you have to understand your organization and your people to determine what kind of motivational tactics and gamification will work best to engender healthy competition and keep people motivated.

Have you experienced successful or unsuccessful attempts at gamification in your workplace? The hosts of Harmonious Workplaces encourage you to share your experiences and ideas! By understanding both the power-ups and the potential pitfalls, we can all level up our approach to driving meaningful and harmonious change.

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