Did you know that according to Gallup, 70% of U.S. employees are not actively engaged? That amounts to $380 billion in lost productivity each year. At Inward, we’re passionate about employee engagement which is why we recommend that our clients consider gamification to drive their engagement initiatives.

Gamification is hot these days with some of the largest companies in the world utilizing it to engage employees, shoppers and partners. If you’re not familiar with the term, gamification uses game-design thinking to motivate behaviors and solve business problems. When executed correctly, a gamified experience can dramatically influence audience behavior. That’s why, according to Gartner, 70% of the world’s 2,000 largest companies are expected to deploy at least one gamified application by year’s end.

From our experience, starting a gamification project can present unique challenges when it comes to client management, as clients often find themselves in unfamiliar territory. As strategic partners to clients, in-house agencies are pivotal when it comes to guiding and supporting the planning process, before an investment is made in design and development. That’s why it’s important for in-house agency leaders and individual contributors to educate themselves on gamification practices.

When clients see the value and potential fun and excitement that go along with gamification, it becomes easier for them to commit to it as an engagement strategy. So the more you know, the more effective you will be at challenging your clients’ thinking—asking the right questions, gathering insights and providing the information necessary to ensure that both you and your clients are successful at selling-in, planning and executing gamification programs.

Join IHAF Member, Inward Strategic Consulting on Thursday, May 8th, 1-2 p.m. EDT for Gamification 101—a webinar on the fundamentals of gamification, including examples of successful programs and planning tips to help you get started on gamification strategies of your own.