Here’s Why Gamification Can Help Companies Build Inclusive, High-performing Teams

• KeepWol has launched a new on-demand SaaS platform that provides a digital library of live multiplayer games that cultivate employee development in various areas. 
• The platform’s games are designed to help enterprises build tight-knit inclusive, high-performing teams by embracing differences and normalizing curiosity, courage, and connection at work. 
• Traditional training strategies fall short when it comes to changing employee behavior, mainly because they occur as one-offs and don’t focus on the ins-and-outs of everyday work life.   

A new SaaS (software as a service) platform will enable recurring, guided immersive team experiences powered by software but driven by humans to build and revitalize corporate culture.  

On October 27, KeepWOL (Keep Wondering Out Loud) launched its new on-demand SaaS platform that provides a digital library of live multiplayer games that cultivate employee development in various areas. The impact of each KeepWOL session is tracked by data collected within the platform providing accountability and measurable change. 

KeepWOL is a leading developer of digital talent development solutions that maximizes cultural intelligence in the workplace. Its platform provides a library of live multiplayer psychology-based games designed to help enterprises build tight-knit inclusive, high-performing teams by embracing differences and normalizing curiosity, courage, and connection at work.

But unlike similar platforms, KeepWOL doesn’t teach using lectures, videos, and roleplay. KeepWOL enables recurring guided immersive experiences powered by software but driven by humans to practice and develop core skills, cultivate employee engagement, attract top talent, boost innovation, and increase retention. 

The new platform, designed by the black female founder, was inspired by her own personal experience in the corporate world. 

It is built for SMBs and the enterprise alike, and takes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) from passive awareness to an actionable experience for all employees.  

When attempting to instill DEIB into the workforce, many organizations rely on methods like lectures, panels, surveys, and pre-recorded videos. These might be helpful in disseminating information, but these strategies fall short when it comes to changing employee behavior, mainly because they occur as one-offs and don’t focus on the ins-and-outs of everyday work life.  

Early customers that are utilizing this new platform, such as the Mayo Clinic, have already experienced positive outcomes, including a more engaged workforce, better team dynamics, the ability for employees to seamlessly move from one group to another, increased retention, a boost in collaboration and innovation, and a positive impact on the company’s bottom line.  

“Change only transpires when we boldly recognize our challenges and are willing to execute measurable, long-term solutions. KeepWOL provides introspection and self-reflection that sheds light on areas of improvement we may be oblivious to in a non-threatening and fun way,” said Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, founder and CEO of KeepWOL.  

Interpersonal skills such as communication, listening, vulnerability, empathy, and compassion must be practiced.  

“KeepWOL is a phenomenal platform that creates a safe place for very direct, heart of the matter discussions. I also appreciate the business model flexibility of one-off events led by a KeepWOL facilitator or unlimited access plus training with their subscription option,” said Marion Kelly, Director of Community Engagement at Mayo Clinic. 

KeepWOL is designed for SMBs with ten or more employees and enterprise organizations looking to build or shift corporate culture. Monthly subscriptions start at just $10 per user, with certification available and required for those employees interested in becoming KeepWOL facilitators.  

In a Q&A with the founder of KeepWOL Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, she explained how her platform can improve employees’ experience and their behavior. 

Allwork.Space: How do immersive experiences help shape/change employee behavior? Why is this so important in remote and hybrid companies? 

Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks: KeepWOL’s immersive game experiences allow employees to put education into practice. Presentations, lectures, panels, videos, and even books are great for disseminating information, but they don’t allow employees to exercise their learning in real-life situations.  

People learn from doing. KeepWOL is the exercise machine you use to build the muscle memory of the skills you’ve learned so that it’s second nature. Repetition in your day-to-day work environment, not a controlled training environment, is how employee behavior is changed. This is very important for remote and hybrid companies because building the culture, values, and behaviors you want to see across your organization over a virtual connection is difficult. KeepWOL makes it simple.   

Allwork.Space: How can immersive experiences help remote teams bond?  

Immersive experiences, done right, make you forget that you are in a controlled and structured environment. It stimulates the feeling of being in the breakroom, out to lunch, or chatting at someone’s desk.  

Solutions like KeepWOL take the awkwardness of being on a screen away. You’re so engaged in the conversation, learnings, fun, and feeling of human connection that is happening that you forget that you’re on a conference call.  

Allwork.Space: What are some game features that KeepWOL includes during its guided multiplayer experiences?  

 At the onset, KeepWOL is about competitiveness, getting the most points, and being at the top of the leaderboard. Your fellow players vote on the number of points you receive. You get more points for your honesty, openness, and vulnerability. There are fun penalties to make things really entertaining. Whoever gets the most points when time runs out wins!  

However, for many players, the competition aspect of the game quickly fades away. The magic about KeepWOL is that by the time you get to the end of a game, you’ve forgotten about the points because you’re so engaged in the learnings you’re receiving, and you want to find out more! 

Allwork.Space: Is there a risk of increased competitiveness among employees who participate in immersive experiences?  

The opposite, actually. KeepWOL creates a space for employees to comfortably be curious, have an open mind, and gain insights into the assumptions and biases (conscious or unconscious) one carries. It lets players gain a deeper understanding of contextual details about their fellow teammates’ way of thinking. All questions are asked in a way where you only can answer from your personal perspective and experiences. There is no disagreement in perspective and experiences, only realizations.  

KeepWOL really exercises the interpersonal skills that employees don’t often receive training in. Our games help employees build capacity for more meaningful conversations focused on active listening, leading to new perspectives, approaches, techniques, strategies, and learnings. 

Allwork.Space: Specific to work, what are the top immersive programs or games companies are using with employees? 

KeepWOL currently has 10 psychology-based games on the platform, with 5 more on the way. The top 3 games companies play are: 

1. Paths Traveled – Our unique & individual journey fuels our decisions and actions through life. This game embraces those differences and allows participants to understand how everyone’s unique story impacts how they work, interact with others, and develop. This game fosters compassion and genuine connection amongst any team or group. 
2. Perception – Designed for leadership development and self-awareness, this game illuminates how your team handles different situations and day-to-day life circumstances. This game taps into each person’s personal stories in the context of leadership. How do our perceptions, experiences, and past experiences play into the way we lead? This game helps participants explore these important aspects of leadership. 
3. Thoughts From Leaders – Our leaders have experienced highs, lows, and everything in between – this game brings leaders together to reflect, share strategies, techniques, and dig into their personal leadership journeys. Playing this game provides participants a sense of community as they risk vulnerability to explore the nuance of leadership.