Why Using Games for Employee Training
Employee training and development can be carried out in several ways. For example, companies can send employees back to school or use PowerPoint presentations and webinars. Even though the above techniques have been used for a long time, their results have been wanting as per companies’ targets.
Gamification
For effective and efficient training, companies have embraced Gamification. This basically means that they use game-based training tactics. Gamification is a continuous reward system that equips the employee with specific skills on each level. Unlike normal games which have an expected end, Gamification has no end. The trainee continuously acquires skills through the different levels.
Due to the progressive nature of the game, old concepts are used to tackle more complex tasks. This leads to improved knowledge retention and advancement in skills and knowledge.
Why incorporate games for training and development purposes?
For better training results
Learners tend to perform better in environments that are inviting and less demanding. Such an environment is the basic explanation of a game. Employees can undergo training without being bombarded with chunks of information in one sitting. Using games for employee training and development will increase their desire to learn and improve their knowledge retention capacity.
Games keep employees hooked
As mentioned above, games provide the trainee with a more inviting and less demanding environment. Such an environment can facilitate better and longer periods of the employee training. Gamification programs present the employee with a challenge that suits their level of knowledge. Therefore, the trainee is always eager to reach the next level.
Games tap into the cognitive and affective domains
Employee training and development programs gravitate towards enriching the employee with cognitive and affective skillsets. The cognitive domain is responsible for analysis, comprehension, evaluation, recollection, and synthesis. Gamification programs address these skills by presenting a trainee with a situation that requires the use of these skills. Games also improve an employee’s affective domain which controls our feelings, values, and motivation.
Games provide a safe environment
Trainers involved in employee training and development, want to train employees effectively. To achieve this, they need training environments that mimic real-life job scenarios. This is where games come into play. They provide the employee with a virtual reality environment whereby they hone their skills. They also learn from mistakes made without affecting the company’s image.
Games work
Using games as a tool for employee training and development has numerous advantages. According to a meta-analysis by the UC-Denver Business School, employees who undertook game-based training had 14% higher skill-based knowledge than those who used other methods.
Employees also have a high efficacy level and a strong belief that they can tackle the task at hand. A chief advantage of Gamification programs is that they provide instant feedback which increases accountability with each decision made.
Verdict
Using Gamification programs or games for employee training and development will present numerous benefits to your company and to them too. Employees are able to adapt to the different working environment and their cognitive and affective skills are improved which leads to better customer relationships. Well trained employees result in a better company image.
