The rise in popularity of remote work has changed the nature of teamwork. The transition from physical office spaces to virtual ones has had a profound impact on team dynamics, communication, and productivity. Remote work offers flexibility but can lead to loneliness, lack of face-to-face interaction, and team cohesion issues. As effective tools to solve these issues and encourage participation and collaboration in virtual settings, creative gamified solutions have surfaced. Gamification is the process of adding game design aspects to work tasks to make them more fun, interactive, and engaging. This improves team dynamics and productivity.

Explore gamified strategies to strengthen remote teams, with real-world examples and their impact on morale and performance.

Understanding Gamified Solutions

Gamification is the application of game-like elements in non-gaming contexts to motivate and engage people. Stages, badges, points, leaderboards, and challenges make routine tasks more engaging and fun. Because gamification can transform routine tasks into exciting, competitive experiences, it can play a significant role in remote team building.

Leaderboards, for instance, can encourage healthy rivalry among team members, motivating them to improve performance and accomplish their goals. As concrete rewards for accomplishments, badges and points provide instant gratification and a sense of accomplishment. Interactive challenges foster enhanced communication and collaboration among distant workers by encouraging teamwork and problem-solving skills. Dive deeper into the world of gamified solutions for team building by exploring here.

The Importance of Gamified Solutions in Remote Team Building –

gamified solutions at work
Team-building among employees at the workplace. Image by freepik.
  • Enhanced Engagement

Gamifying workplace tasks reduces boredom and boosts engagement. Competition and enjoyment keep employees motivated, especially in remote settings where traditional team bonding is lacking. Gamified chores make work more exciting compared to standard routines.

  • Skill Development

Tailor gamified activities to enhance specific skills, such as problem-solving, leadership, and creativity. By designing games that target key competencies, organizations can engagingly facilitate continuous learning and development. These activities can simulate real-world challenges, allowing employees to practice and refine their skills in a risk-free environment. This continuous skill development is essential for keeping the workforce adaptable and proficient in a rapidly changing work landscape.

  • Increased Retention

Gamified solutions can lead to higher employee retention by making work more enjoyable and rewarding. Engaged and motivated employees are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere, reducing turnover rates and associated costs. A study by TalentLMS found that 83% of employees who received gamified training felt motivated, which directly impacts their likelihood of staying with the company longer.

  • Strengthened Company Culture

Implementing gamified solutions can help reinforce a positive company culture by aligning games and rewards with organizational values and goals. As employees participate in these activities, they internalize the company’s mission and values, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. This alignment can be particularly important in remote settings where maintaining a strong company culture can be challenging.

  • Flexibility and Adaptability

Gamified solutions can be easily customized to meet the specific needs and preferences of different teams, whether through adjusting difficulty levels, changing themes, or introducing new challenges. This flexibility ensures that the solutions remain engaging and relevant over time, adapting to the evolving dynamics of remote work environments.

Strategies for Implementing Gamified Solutions

  1. Establish Goals: Make a list of the precise outcomes you hope to attain via gamification, such as increased engagement, improved communication, or skill enhancement.
  2. Select the Appropriate Tools: Choose gamification resources and platforms that support your goals and are easy for your team to use.
  3. Include Feedback Systems: Make sure your gamified solutions offer real-time feedback so staff members can assess their development and identify growth opportunities.
  4. Encourage Participation: Make sure your team knows about the gamified activities, and use rewards and recognition to motivate them to participate.
  5. Evaluate and Adjust: To maintain the activities’ relevance and interest, periodically evaluate the success of your gamified solutions and make the required changes. 
  • According to a Gallup study, companies with highly engaged employees outperform their peers by 147% in earnings per share.
  • A report by TalentLMS revealed that 89% of employees felt more productive and happier when their work was gamified.
  • The global gamification market is projected to reach $30.7 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 27.4% from 2020.

PwC’s Multipoly

PwC’s Multipoly is a prime example of how gamified solutions can revolutionize employee training and development. They designed this innovative platform to address the complexities of onboarding new employees by immersing them in a virtual game that simulates real-world business scenarios.

How Multipoly Works

  1. Virtual Simulation: In Multipoly, new hires can experience several facets of PwC’s business in a realistic virtual environment. The game’s framework is based on many business scenarios and obstacles that workers could run into in their jobs.
  2. Interactive Learning: Participants take part in interactive exercises that imitate real-world professional duties, like project management, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving with clients. Players must use their knowledge and abilities in a real-world situation to complete these activities, which helps them learn by doing.
  3. Decision-Making Skills: Critical thinking and decision-making are emphasized in the game. Participants have to evaluate scenarios, weigh potential outcomes, and make decisions that affect how the game progresses. This feature of Multipoly aids in the development of employees’ problem-solving skills and teaches them how to successfully negotiate challenging corporate environments.
  4. Feedback and Progress Tracking: Players get immediate performance feedback while they’re playing. They can better grasp their areas of strength and improvement thanks to this input. Furthermore, Multipoly keeps track of advancement, enabling coaches and players to follow progress over time.
  5. Team Collaboration: Team-based tasks are a common feature of Multipoly, where recruits must cooperate to accomplish shared objectives. The cooperation, communication, and interpersonal skills that are essential for success in a business setting are fostered by this collaborative approach.