Engaging employees has been one of the biggest challenges in the corporate market. According to the Gallup global report, ‘State of the Global Workplace,’ only 23% of professionals are engaged at work. Furthermore, the diversity of values among Generation Z, Millennials, and Baby Boomers may pose an additional challenge to keep the team involved in sync. On the other hand, with the expansion of technology and digital resources, gamification has emerged as an efficient way to enhance employee productivity, regardless of the generation to which they belong.
Gamification has stood out as a tool to motivate in the workplace. It can be adopted in different ways, but always with a common goal: increasing engagement and productivity. ‘There is no one-size-fits-all solution for professionals with different needs, preferences, and backgrounds. What companies can do is ensure that they have the autonomy to choose the recognition format they deem best,’ says Eduardo Rodrigues, CEO of Applause.
Applause is an incentive management startup that offers a gamification-based platform aimed at recognizing employees according to their own choices. Despite the discrepancies between age groups in the workforce, a survey of around 1200 redemptions by the company concluded that the three generations (Z, Millennials, and Baby Boomers) opt for the same type of incentive: iFood Gift Card.
In Rodrigues’ perspective, the difference between these collaborators may be smaller considering a common goal. “The views may be different, but the relentless pursuit of recognition unites all generations. Thus, the effectiveness of gamification depends on a deep understanding of each one’s characteristics and expectations. By aligning strategies with these nuances, companies can create more motivating and productive work environments for everyone”.
Although the younger generations are more familiar with the digital world, Baby Boomers and Generation X tend to be more resistant to using digital technologies, gamification, when implemented intuitively, can be equally advantageous. The secret lies in adjusting the tools so that they align with organizational objectives and are easily accessible.
“Gamification offers an approach that goes beyond simple performance recognition. It creates an atmosphere of healthy competition and encourages all collaborators to achieve better results. Above all, the approach is based on adaptation and flexibility,” says Rodrigues.
The expert’s comments are data-driven. The Gamification in Marketing survey shows that 70% of two thousand global companies analyzed use gamification in some form. In Brazil, Gupy states that four out of ten companies use gamification-based training to train employees.
