Put simply, gamification is the use of game mechanics (such as badges, points, rewards, etc.) to impart effective sales training.
Gamification combines engagement, motivation, and teamwork to drive revenue growth. For a sales onboarding process, gamification serves the following purposes:
Long term performance improvement - inspires better performance as employees experience individualized motivation
Team collaboration - quickly integrates new employees and enables them focus on teamwork
Better customer satisfaction - adds a fun element to the sales onboarding process, giving learners a long lasting and unique experience which motivates them to exhibit better customer service
5 Killer Tips for Using Gamification During the Sales Onboarding Process
Develop More Exploration Games: In a standard game, players can be divided into four categories – Killers, Achievers, Socializers, and Explorers (Source: game effective). New sales employees will assume the role of Explorers to explore new applications, processes, levels, etc. Develop a mini-game including the exploration theme (example: a treasure hunt) which suits the sales onboarding
Make it Engaging: Dopamine is the chemical released by the brain when we experience something pleasant and engaging. The substance plays an important role in motivating learners and helping them persist in their present task. Thus, the judicious use of fun elements in gamification helps the sales onboarding process move forward.
Weave a Story: A story will help tie the knot between the learning aspect and learners’ interests. For example, you are developing a gamification concept based on sales hurdles or objection handling, you can include a story of Sindbad and slowly drive your sales new hires from one objection level to another. Sindbad, though a sailor, had to face numerous obstacles while on the sea. You can use this analogy to keep things alive.
Include a Virtual Coach: Include a fictional character who explains, guides, supports, celebrates, and corrects each learning aspect with the player. Humans love to interact with their loved ones on the go. Close collaboration between the learner and his mentor keeps the sales onboarding training process simple, relatable, and easy to learn.
Chalk Out Small Steps: Avoiding a big step and a bigger fall is always the best choice. As the employees are new to the sales community, a tough game and repeated failures will eventually end the learning process. Even the best of games such as Angry Birds, starts with a simple step of having one bird easy shot, right!
Still Doubtful about Gamification for Sales Onboarding? – The Proof is in the Numbers
A further study by the University of Colorado, on the impact of simulations and games in adult learners, showed that participants in eLearning enhanced by gamification techniques scored:
14% higher in skill-based knowledge assessments
11% higher in factual-knowledge
9% increase in retention rate
To summarize, gamification is the best answer to turbocharge your sales onboarding process. It also enables promote continuous learning for your new sales hires and thus leads to low turnover.
Effective Sales Onboarding + High Engagement with Gamification = Enthusiastic Sales Employees + Low Turnover
This simple equation sums it all up.
Thus, take action and develop a sales onboarding program with gamification that demonstrates an investment in disguise for yourself, your organization, and new sales hires.
Go! Make it Happen!
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