Is My Sales Team Ready for Gamification?

All businesses have one thing in common: a strong drive to earn as much profit as possible.

Profit is the blood running through the average CEO’s veins. Sales, however, are the life force behind it. Without making enough sales, there would be no profit, and businesses would run dry. So, company heads are always scouting for the next breakthrough sales strategy to help sustain their business and avoid a shortage of sales.

Sales gamification is one such strategy. But what exactly does it imply?

This article will help you understand everything you need to know about sales gamification. We’ll also cover the importance of sales gamification and how you can implement it within the office.

But that’s not all – before launching your team into sales gamification, you need to assess whether or not they’re ready for it. Luckily, we’ve listed some tips below to help you decide.

So, are you ready to explore more?

Let’s dive in! 

Gamifying Your Workforce

Gamification exists within two realms: the world of consumers and the realm of sales teams. Both types of gamification have many benefits. However, this article’s scope is limited to the latter realm – the world of sales gamification.

In simple terms, gamification is when mundane settings are converted into a gaming platform. As a result, all the tasks performed within that space also get gamified. They’re treated like quests and are often motivated by rewards.

Here’s an example: suppose you are part of a sales team, and your manager expects you to hit the 100 sales mark by the end of the week. So, you work hard to achieve the goal because you don’t have any other option. This is what your job is like in a traditional, non-gamified setting.

However, you soon learn that next week’s goal is slightly different. This time around, your manager expects everyone within the sales team to try their best and generate as many sales as possible. Also, whoever bags the most deals gets a big reward. 

Knowing this encourages you to give this sales cycle your best shot. As a result, instead of the regular 100 sales, you generate 150! And, because you secured more deals than anyone else, you’re rewarded with a paycheck bonus.

Do you see what we are getting at? Sales gamification can help motivate sales team members to work harder than they usually would. Plus, it makes the sales process more exciting and engaging for workers. It’s excellent for their mental health and overall happiness. And don’t forget – a happy employee is a productive employee!

But why does sales gamification work so well? Let’s explore the psychology behind it in the upcoming section…

The Psychology of Sales Gamification

Have you ever seen a kid hooked to their PS4 and wondered why they’re so thoroughly engrossed with gaming all the time?

We’ll let you in on a little secret: one of the biggest motivating factors behind videogame addiction is its ability to reward players at the end of the day. Be it in the form of in-game points or gold medals, everybody loves to win an award!

The same theory applies to sales gamification. According to research conducted in 2019, 71% of full-time employees agreed that gamification makes their work feel more fun. They also noticed an increase in personal energy levels and motivation. In addition, many agreed they started looking forward to working days more when they knew they’d have a chance to win something.

But that’s not all. In addition to rewards, acknowledgment of one’s hard work also helps motivate employees to put in their best effort. Positive reinforcement can work wonders, as noted within further research on behavior gamification modification conducted in 2021.

So, as long as company heads focus on appreciating and rewarding their employees post-gamification, they will receive better sales results.

Some company heads worry that gamification costs too much in the form of employee rewards. Plus, some gamification processes demand CRM and other paid software. While factoring these costs into your gamification decision is essential, let’s not forget how profitable the results of gamification can be. This brings us to our next point… 

Benefits of Sales Gamification

Here’s a quick list of why you should consider implementing sales gamification at your office:

• Increase in employee happiness levels and overall worker motivation
• Employees work harder during gamified sales cycles, ultimately securing more sales deals and boosting company revenue
• Tracking employee performance during gamification cycles can help managers better understand individual workers’ strengths and weaknesses. Understanding your team well can help you devise an effective game plan to help them overcome any challenges at the workplace
• Improved workplace environment due to happier employees
• If workers compete against one another in teams, it can help improve their teamwork skills. Plus, more experienced employees can guide lesser-skilled teammates and help them improve their performance. So, by the end of the sales cycle, you’ll have a set of better performing workers than you did before

As you can see, sales gamification can help take your team to the next level. However, it’s essential to assess whether or not your team is ready for gamification first. This brings us to our next point… 

Is My Sales Team Ready for Gamification?

Here’s how to tell if your sales team is ready for sales gamification or not:

• Intrateam rivalry is low, and people are willing to work with one another. But if your sales team members have prominent, glaring rivalries, focus on resolving those first. If you implement sales gamification before overcoming these rivalries, tensions could heighten, and employees may eventually turn towards toxic competition. This could eventually drag the whole team down, especially if the gamification method includes group work.
• Employee motivation levels are low, and your sales team desperately needs a change from mundane routine work. Gamification can help stimulate workers and refresh workers mentally. So, don’t hesitate to use it as a tool to help boost employee enthusiasm.
• Your team is keen on trying it. Though it may seem silly at first, it’s crucial you ask your team what they want. Having them on board becomes even more critical if you’re working with a small group of opinionated people. Remember, these are the same people who will participate in the gamification sales cycle. So, it makes sense to include them in the decision-making process. Of course, the ultimate decision rests in your hands as the leader. But do consult them – there’s little point in implementing a new strategy that workers don’t want to partake in!

How to Implement Sales Gamification at the Office

Wondering how to incorporate sales gamification within the workplace? Here are two of the best gamification strategies out there: 

Leaderboards

Maintaining records of individual employees’ sales performance can help motivate them to work harder and outperform one another. Remember to reward top performers at the end of the sales cycle, though. This will help them stay motivated throughout the process. 

Host Intragroup Competitions

Make smaller teams within your overall sales team and encourage employees to work together towards a common goal. Similar to the leaderboard strategy, motivate workers with the promise of an exciting reward for the winning team.  

Final Thoughts

As you can see, sales gamification has many excellent benefits. It can boost employee work satisfaction and increase company profit if implemented correctly. However, be sure to critically analyze your sales team’s current work dynamic before subjecting them to gamification.

Unhealthy intrateam relationships or a general work-life dissatisfaction amongst team members can tamper with the gamification process. So, be sure to resolve existing issues, if any, before moving your team towards sales gamification.

And do not forget to reward your employees for working hard, too! Remember, rewards and appreciation are two primary driving factors behind successful sales gamification.

Sources:

10 innovative tips to gamify your sales strategy

6 Ways Gamification can Supercharge your Sales Training

When Should You Say No to Gamification?

Gamification in Marketing: Stats and Trends for 2022

7 Benefits of Sales Gamification For Your Startup Sales Team