Summer Fun: Top 3 Tips for Gamification Training in the Workplace

The summer months are here, so how about mixing in some fun at the office with gamification? While your staff members rotate taking longer vacation breaks, reward those employees who are still in the office by using gamification training to let them have some fun while learning new skills.

Using gamification in employee training has become an increasingly popular way to engage employees and train them in best practices. In fact, the Entertainment Software Association estimates that up to 70 percent of large employers use games and interactive software for training. By 2015, Gartner projects that 50 percent of corporate innovation will be gamified. If you’re looking for a better way to improve your customer service team’s skills, follow our tips below to craft a gamification strategy that your employees will enjoy and benefit from.

Gamification tip #1: Good design matters

The design of the gamification training program you use matters as much as the type of material you choose for gamification. According to VentureBeat.com, you first need to make it clear to your workers the purpose of the gamification training, and ensure that there is a solid message behind the design. Some employees may feel the games will slow their productivity, so reassure them that the purpose of the gamification training is to teach them and refine their skillsets. Choose a design that is intuitive and not so complex that your less tech-savvy employees have a hard time mastering it.

Gamification tip #2: Use the games to improve work, not merely speed it up

When creating your guidelines for gamification, what are your goals? Do you want to use gamification simply to squeeze more out of your workforce and make them more productive, or are you looking to gamification as a way to help employees improve their skills and become better at their craft? Be watchful of gamification systems that are designed merely to make employees more productive. True, productivity is a positive quality, but workers will see through programs that are attempting to turn them into robots who churn our massive quantities of work. Look instead for gamification training programs that focus on specific skillsets, such as field service operations or customer service skills.

Gamification tip #3: The rewards you use matter

A big aspect of gamification is the reward that employees receive for their efforts. You may think that cash rewards are the most valuable thing you can give the top-earning gamification employees, but in fact, cash is a reward that’s not recommended. When you give workers cash as a reward, you are in danger of creating an environment that alienates employees and pits them against each other. Instead, encourage cooperation and a team spirit by choosing rewards that offer in-game points and point exchanges between players. These type of reward systems encourage cooperation and interaction, and they facilitate communication between employees who team up. Offer rewards for the best teams and most in-game points that groups of employees can enjoy – for example, days off, or a team happy hour. Additionally, mix up your reward system so that employees will stay engaged and not get bored with the incentives.

Keep training fun and engaging with gamification

Employee service training – whether for customer service, tech support, or field service – is a crucial aspect that drives continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Gamification training programs abound, so this summer, choose a program that will accomplish your company’s goals and keep your employees engaged.

via Business 2 Community http://ift.tt/1iu9sIx