Business leaders are always in a search for the best team management practices to keep their employees focused and motivated. Now they are taking cues from video games (and other virtual games) to build a great team that is essential to an organization’s success. Experts now suggest, Pokemon Go, which has taken the world by storm, may be one of the best ways for CXOs to imbue new energy into their corporate culture.
The augmented reality game released by Nintendo on July 5, did strike gold as Pokemon Go quickly became one of the most used smart device apps, surpassing the previous record held by Candy Crush Saga in the United States. It was a boon to the stock value of Nintendo and reportedly, seen a 75 percent boost in the company’s business as a result of capitalizing on the ‘Pokemon Go’ craze.
Also Read: Pokémon GO: The Dictionary Definition Of ‘Phenomenon’
The Power of Pokemon Optimism
Some believe this is the best time to introduce a game like Pokemon Go, when the world is craving for distraction in a peaceful manner. Physical and cyber terror, violent shootings, the Brexit in Europe and the US Presidential Election campaigns have left many psychologically exhausted and a few even disillusioned.
Likewise, organizations across the globe are seeing flat sales and lesser profit owing to the mid-year slump. Many industries and businesses are also realigning their strategies. Experts believe, smart business leaders can tap into this renewed energy, and harness it within their organizations for better team alignment and engagement.
One observation made by analysts is that the Pokemon Go game can create a friendly competition around the play. An Inc.com article suggests that a good way would be to create a “war room” with a leader board so that every employee can participate.
The game can create communications and co-working opportunities where CXOs can also get a wonderful opportunity to connect with employees that otherwise don’t have access to the executive team.
Pokemon Go is having a dramatic effect on mental health too. It not only refreshes the mood, but helps in lowering anxiety, and depression. These impacts trickle into the workplace, improving morale.
The game also gets your employees moving, helps employees do some good exercise, which in turn stimulates creativity and help them come back de-stressed, states a recent article.
The Good, Bad and Ugly
The proponents of gamification believes some games provide their employees with the chance to learn about leadership roles, develop management skills, and become better known within their organizations.
However, some others consider it a distraction for workers that in the long run can hamper their productivity. WallStreet Journal technology reporter Farhad Manjoo questions any attempt to gamify work, musing that employees will rebel en masse when corporate managers try to make otherwise mundane jobs “fun.”
And in case of Pokemon Go people hooked up on the game, trying to relive a part of their childhood makes one get tempted to look up another term ‘mania’ which can be defined as A mental illness in which the person becomes very emotional or excited or Extreme enthusiasm for something that is usually shared by many people.
Also Read: Pokémon Go: Is The Future About Augmented Reality Or Mental Illness?
But how long will it continue? At some point, most games get tiresome. And most importantly, real productivity decreases when employees get wrapped up in a game.
In conclusion, it can be said that Pokemon Go is here to stay in the foreseeable future. In that sense, the game might offer short-term productivity gains rather than long-term benefits. For now, it can add some fun and motivation to the workplace. Enjoy as long as it lasts!