Gamification in Training: Benefits of Soft Skills Activities for Employees

Simply put, gamification uses the principles and elements of games and activities in a non-gaming context to get the desired outcome.

 The gamification concept in a corporate setting has started expanding. More and more organisations are trying to adopt this concept to take advantage of the major benefits that come along with it. Today, most corporates are adopting different ways to let their employees learn soft skills, and one successful way is by conducting soft skills activities.

What is Involved in Soft Skills Activities Training Session?

 Whenever an organisation thinks about adding training to its usual course, the traditional ritual follows the main idea, where each training feature is broken down and dealt with separately. This method can be great when conducting a session on soft skills, where every skill needs to be broken down, ending up in online courses that have their core tied to the emotional quotient, collaboration, communication, and more. It needs to be broken down because soft skill is an umbrella that carries different courses and purposes.

 But the only problem with this is that the aspects and features of soft skills cannot be separated, meaning they need to be taught together to be effective. A gamified approach to soft skills training ensures that the workshop focuses on combining the features for a holistic experience. It includes soft skills activities that can help build your employees' soft skills.

 There are two types of soft skills activities in a soft skills training session – direct and indirect. Some are appropriate for certain topics, while others can be used in any scenario. This holistic approach focuses on making your employees:

 These gamification techniques for corporate training are known to create a microcosm where the participants are allowed deeper learning in a shorter period.

 

What are the Benefits of Soft Skills Activities?

 So, what are the benefits of corporate soft skills training games and activities for your employees?

 1.   Increases Engagement

 It promotes employee engagement during the workshop and, after that, when they would have to put their soft skills to the test within the organisation. They facilitate more active learning experiences. Rather than simply listening to lectures or watching presentations, employees get to engage with each other in hands-on exercises that help them develop their interpersonal skills. These games allow employees to learn from each other's experiences and perspectives while bonding over shared challenges. 

Some motivators help motivate the team members to increase their engagement throughout the activities. Once these motivators are translated into the real world, the employees are encouraged to show more interest in their jobs. 

2.      Retains Knowledge and Employees Get Immediate Feedback

There are two folds of benefits to conducting corporate soft skills training games and activities; one is that they are enjoyable, and the second fold is that since they are enjoyable, your employees are more likely going to retain the knowledge gained for a longer time. Apart from this, the participants will receive feedback immediately during the activity session. So, their actions have an immediate result, harbouring a safe environment to experiment with their ways and either pass or fail, hence immediately learning from it. 

3.      Boosts Employee Productivity and Happiness

 According to recent statistics, 72% of the respondents to a survey said that gamification at their workplace motivated them to do more of their daily tasks and work harder. Further, 90% of survey respondents said that activities and games helped them become more productive. 

The main reason why more employees feel like the addition of communication activities in between their routines works better than traditional workshops and courses is that it increases their skill range and knowledge, which allows them to get better salary increases or promotions in the future. 

4.      Improves Teamwork 

Employees can develop trust, empathy, and mutual respect towards their colleagues by participating in collaborative exercises that require communication and cooperation in these soft skills activities. This improved relationship quality ultimately leads to better collaboration on projects which can increase efficiency and productivity. Another advantage is that these activities provide a safe space for employees to practice new skills without fear of failure or the pressure of real-life situations. 

 Traditional Learning Setup vs. Activity-based Learning 

Most learners are more drawn towards the reward and recognition learning model as it is the basic human psychology. The rewards in the corporate world include public appreciation, promotions, or monetary benefits. This is where there's a line of difference between gamification and traditional learning setup.

 Without having any motivator, like recognition and reward, there's no practical use for setting activity-based learning. And apart from this, what gives gamification techniques for corporate training the upper hand is that it: 

So, even though activity-based learning may cost your organisation slightly more cost than traditional learning, you will be provided with better results in the long term!

 Author Bio:

  Suman Agarwal is an award-winning image management professional. She frequently writes blog posts about the urgent need of soft skill trainers & image consultants in India in the 21st century and loves guiding people in exploring lucrative career options. She has helped students, home-makers, women on sabbatical as well as people seeking second career alternatives to explore Image Management and Soft Skill Training as a vibrant professional choice. Write to her at sumanagarwal@imageconsultinginstitute.com to seek advanced career guidance.