Category Archives: Wellness Benefits

Using Games, Sims and Virtual Worlds – at Work #IHRIMConf

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As you all may know, I’m in Chicago blogging and taking part in the IHRIM HR Technology Conference. I just finished sitting in on an incredible session with CEO Scott Randall, of BrandGames, who is taking gamification to a whole new level. The title of the session was “Games, Sims, and Virtual Worlds – Engaging the next generation workforce.” Using gamification to drive engagement in the workplace. I’ll all about this.

Randall began by telling us all something that we already knew and that being that we are all overworked, over-messaged, and under-engaged at work. We are overwhelmed. Utilizing technology at work is critical if we are to evolve – especially with the techies who grew up on games. “These kids that grew up on SIMS and other games are our current workforce who are expecting to use technology EVERY DAY at work” says Randall. “And we need to be changing with technology in order to keep them engaged and keep our communication methods going forward in a technological world.”

A few stats on gaming:

  • 135 million consumers play at least one hour of video games a month, vs. 56 million in 2008.
  • 75% of US tablet owners play games on their devices, 57% of smart phone owners also play games.
  • 3 billion hours of game play a week are going on, with $60 billion in game sales

Where is this game play happening? – 40% are playing games at work. (Saatchi Gaming Study)

Here is my video interview with Randall after his session:

Randall makes a valid point. If our employees are already participating in games at work, why aren’t we using this same strategy to train and engage our employees?

It is predicted that during 2012 20% of Global 2000 organizations will deploy a gamified application. By 2014 the number will rise to 70%. Those are outrageous stats, IMHO.

Understanding how to apply game mechanics is critical to increase engagement with customers and employees and to motivate positive behavioral changes – and is critical to our success.

Check out BrandGames and find out how you can incorporate gaming into your engagement and training initiatives.

Photo Credit: Gigaom.com

Using Technology and Innovation as a tool of engagement in Health and Wellness

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We just finished ILSHRM11 and I was honored to be asked to participate in judging Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois WOWIE awards.

Every year companies all over Illinois are encouraged to enter the WOWIE awards – which is I think, an awesome acknowledgement of Health and Wellness initiatives on behalf of these organizations.

One of the takeaways, however, and my advice to companies as seen in this article was that companies should totally take advantage of online technology and even mobile technology, as this was something that was utilized very little as it regards to health and wellness.

Part of my advice to companies going forward was to utilize technology and social media in developing employee engagement IN HOUSE, as it relates to health and wellness. In this present age of talking via tweet, the term social networks now makes people think of Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. However, according to Dr. Larry Miller, president and CEO of Activate Networks, flesh-and-blood social networks are just as critical, if not more important, than those relationships forged in cyberspace.

Forming organic relationships such as those that employees form from working together, having an online support and interaction with corporate networks can lengthen the companies professional reach and improve their overall employee morale and engagement.

Social networks are critical to innovation and can drive organizational change and these types of tools can drive success of individual business initiatives like wellness programs.

Tips for Implementation

If you can virtually connect people that are hesitant to make connections in real life and put them on project teams together, these online relationships help build real life relations that extend into the workplace. This brings a more cohesive team, virtually and IRL, which tend to be more productive.

These tools also allow management the possibility of looking for troubled employees who can also spread negativity just as quickly as positive messages from key employees and allow for resolutions to quickly nip those things in the bud – at the onset. Disenfranchised employees can magnify their impact through the network but just as easily, it can be used for good.

In the end, social capital improves results and innovation.

Take a moment to check out Illinois State Council of Human Resource’s online WOW wellness site.