Gamification, being more than a technique or a strategy, is a mindset with a potential of transformation of the way we work. Using game thinking and game mechanics in a non-game context, problems come to be resolved in a new way. What are the essential reasons of loving games? Desire for challenges, competitions, leveling up, achieving mastery, seeing progress, impact or getting feedback, empowerment from rewards or the feeling of accomplishment. The fact, that it really makes people use their own creativity, should also be noted.
Gamification of work tasks
Gamification of work tasks starts with the same core driving aspects, as for playing games. Whilst opening a new approach to work management processes, based on these main factors of being eager to playing games, all these aspects, connected into aforementioned mindset, can have a profound, tremendous effect on people’s inner motivation, consequently affecting the results of the task performed at work, harnessing the power of play, demonstrating its real-life impact.
Taking into account the fact that everyone has the capacity to enjoy games, implying the gamification strategy to obligatory tasks, the process turns to a craft, taking all those fun, exiting elements of games and pouring them into boring non-game contexts.
A vivid benefit of gamification
A serious game called ’’folded’’ can be mentioned as a shining example. Scientists have been trying to figure out AIDS virus protein structure problems and the top PhDs in the world couldn’t resolve it for 15 years. Accordingly, they decided to change the mindset and made up a game. Miraculously, the solution was found by a gamer in ten days. Comparing the amount of time being spent on trying to solve the problem, one can see that the future of creativity and innovation lies through gamification.
For the conclusion…
… good gamification design is a complex subject. Labor with the correct mindset in a workplace, where there is no longer a division between what you have to do and what you want to do is still to be expanded, applied and achieved in the whole world. Nevertheless, the beauty of gamification can be seen in process more and more in our society, with many more successful examples, with valuable influences after assessing the true benefits of this mindset.
[Practical] Let’s gamify work tasks together!
Game #1: Healthy competition
This game will be especially interesting for specialists working in sales sphere or those striving to achieve KPI’s. Nothing boosts better than the desire to beat a rival. For this, it is not necessary to fight with him. Your colleague can become your opponent, and healthy competition will benefit both of you.
Bet on who will do the job faster, sign more contracts, sell more products, come to the office earlier or make a successful presentation. Put something nice and meaningful at stake – for example, let the loser pay for dinner at a restaurant. The competition will challenge you, make you treat your working tasks more carefully, forget about procrastination and make every effort.
Game #2: Funframing
Funframing it is the ability to turn a not-so-interesting activity into something exciting simply by changing the “frame”, or the angle of view.
A team of psychologists conducted an experiment: one half of the group was offered to pass a “test in mathematics”, and the other – “to play a math game.” In fact, the test and the game were the same and differed only in the formulation of the task.
Both groups of participants were given an hour to prepare. And what happened? Participants who believed that they were preparing for the test, strongly delayed the start of preparation – 60% of the allotted time they procrastinated. But the participants, who thought that they were preparing for the game, started preparations immediately and used every opportunity to improve their knowledge. Why? Because they did not consider doing something as something they would like to avoid. They were waiting for a fun game, so immediately began to prepare for it.
Before you start doing a task, ask yourself: “What is pleasant in it?” Or “What causes joy?” Try to find at least one aspect that will give pleasure, be it new knowledge or time spent on yourself, and focus on it.
Do not treat tasks as something difficult that will be handled by iron will power. The same action can bring joy or seem like a tedious job, a deed that you want to avoid, or a deed that you want to start right away. It all depends on how you perceive it 🙂
Let’s work & play – and let’s have fun!
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