Four Reasons to Play MiniGames™

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Once you’ve seen the transformational power of The Great Game of Business^®, your team will begin to grab onto the gamification aspects; and along with it, the language. Words like Huddles and scoreboards will become part of the vernacular of your organization.

To us, MiniGames™ are a powerful way to describe short-term, self-funding incentive plans that will make a huge impact on your organization in 90 days or less. They are designed to affect a change, reinforce business training, build teamwork, and develop a winning attitude—all of which lead to success for both your company and your people.

Through the years, many gurus have adapted MiniGames into their own systems; because MiniGames work. You might be familiar with Rocks, RIPs, and WIGs which all include the key elements. They’ve got a goal, measures, scoreboard, an accountability rhythm. Some even tie front-line people back to the larger goals of the organization.

But they miss something important. A Stake in the Outcome^®. They miss the importance of driving results and celebrating the win with rewards and recognition. This is the linchpin in teaching people about your business, including them in the design process and executing day-to-day. Remember, people support what they help create!

MiniGames can be a powerful tool, but in order to design a high-impact MiniGame, we must understand the reasons why we play them:

1. Affect a Change

The primary reason for playing a MiniGame is to strengthen the business through improved performance. MiniGames help companies boost workgroup, departmental, and corporate performance by focusing on an operational or financial number that represents a weakness or an opportunity. MiniGame teams are challenged to find solutions to current problems and take advantage of opportunities—whatever it takes to get to the goal!

Expert Tip: If you aren’t changing a system, process, or behavior that will stick long after the MiniGame is over, you’re just killing time!

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Download our eBook Containing 28 MiniGame™ Ideas!

2. Reinforce Business Education

MiniGames are one of the most effective tools used to “build a business of business people”. As a short-term version of The Great Game, they reinforce key components of success—goal setting, mutual responsibility, and performance management by:

1. Teaching players to track, measure, and forecast team activity

2. Showing each member how they can contribute to team success

3. Rewarding them as they progress

3. Build Teamwork

MiniGames provide the members of a team, workgroup, or department with a shared, common goal. While individual contribution is valued, individuals must unite as a team in order to reach the overall goal found in the Critical Number^®. MiniGame rewards are based on the success of the team and give each player a vested interest in helping his or her team achieve its goal. We win and lose as a team....and we ain't gonna lose!

4. Create a Culture of Winning

Face it. Many people don’t wake up feeling like winners. Life is hard. Maybe, just maybe, we could create a winning environment at work where people are recognized and results are rewarded. MiniGames instill the desire to win and can help you create a culture of winning.

Don't forget that small wins add up to big wins. Everyone should focus on the goal of the big Game—The Critical Number, but the only way we can achieve that goal is by acting on the everyday activities and behaviors that influence The Critical Number.

Need more help with designing and executing effective MiniGames?

This blog was inspired by Rich Armstrong and Steve Baker's new book, Get in the Game. Find out more about the step-by-step guide to implementing the Great Game of Business below.