4 GAMIFICATION PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

4 GAMIFICATION PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Gamification can be interesting to conceive and rewarding to implement, but only if it is done well. What do we mean by that? Let’s have a look…

Share This Post

Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
Share on twitter
Share on email

4 GAMIFICATION PITFALLS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Gamification gets people excited like no other strategy does, probably because it holds the promise of fun and engagement, and extraordinary results. This is mostly true, since research backs it up, and there are experts who swear by the effectiveness of this tool.

But beware… gamification is no peril-free zone. When it is not thought through and designed well, it can have the exact opposite effect of what was intended. Here are a few pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Superficial Engagement

It’s great to have people falling over themselves to earn goodies, or competing on the leaderboard to achieve top position, but if these are the only reasons that spur learners to perform the desired behaviors, then it’s not going to last very long. Extrinsic motivators can only go so far to engage and motivate. Once the novelty wears off, people tend to lose interest and fall back into their old habits. If you are not sure if this is the case, try offering a chocolate to a seven year old to do a boring task. Very soon, you will notice that the chocolate is taken for granted, and you will have to increase the ‘prize’ to keep her motivated at the task.

How to avoid superficial engagement, and promote deep engagement:

  • Make sure to have more intrinsic motivators than extrinsic motivators. In the above example, an indefinitely better option would be to make the task itself interesting, or if that is not possible, convince the child of its value to her.

2. Unintended Consequences

While encouraging and rewarding the right behaviors does definitely motivate people, sometimes unintended, and even undesirable behaviors can be the side effects of a gamification initiative.

Take the case of the Cobra Effect, for instance, a term that originated in colonial India. Concerned about the rise in venomous cobra snakes in Delhi, the British government offered a bounty for every dead cobra. The strategy proved successful initially, resulting in a large number of snakes being killed. However, enterprising people soon began gaming the system, breeding cobras for the extra income. Realizing this, the government scrapped the program, which further compounded the problem, because the cobras were now worthless, causing them to be released. The British government was not the only victim of the Cobra Effect – there are many other examples we can learn from.

How to avoid unintended consequences:

  • Think long and hard about the motivators, rewards, and consequences. Here again, make sure that extrinsic motivators like physical rewards and cash incentives are applied very carefully.

3. Rewarding the Wrong Behaviors

Referred to as Kerr’s Folly, this is a common problem that we unfortunately see existing all around us. Instances of an organization wanting to promote teamwork, but rewarding individual star performers, talking about establishing a service culture, but rewarding quick completion of customer complaint calls, wishing for more ideas and innovation, but penalizing people for mistakes, the list goes on.

A typical occurrence of Kerr’s Folly in the L&D and training industries is… yes, you guessed it! Measuring and rewarding completion of a course, rather than the effectiveness of learning and subsequent transfer to the workplace.

How to avoid rewarding the wrong behaviors:

  • Be clear about the goal and the outcomes you are aiming for.
  • Measure and reward what is important (the goal and the outcomes), not what is easy.

4. Rewards that Users Don’t Find Valuable

Have you ever received a gift from someone, presented with a lot of love, and struggled to tell them that you don’t really like it, or find much use for it? That’s exactly what would happen if we throw a bunch of worthless badges at our users, without thinking about whether they would find these badges valuable.

Google learned this the hard way when they introduced the Google Reader service. Zappos did the same with their user profile pages. What both companies didn’t think about was the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me)? What can users do with those badges? While Google allowed people to display the badges on their Google+ profile pages, they did not think about the reason why a person would want to do so. People don’t typically want to brag about having read a bunch of articles on a news site.

How to avoid offering worthless rewards to users:

  • Think about whether the audience will find your rewards useful / exciting

I’m sure there are many other perils and pitfalls to watch out for, and I’ve just scratched the surface here. I welcome your thoughts, suggestions or additions. Please add them in the Comments section below.

Here are some of our recent articles on gamification:

Looking to implement gamified learning in your organization? Please get in touch with us at elearning@learnnovators.com.

Written by Srividya Kumar

(Co-Founder at Learnnovators)

_________________________________

(Visited 786 times, 1 visits today)

More To Explore

The Power of a Good Start - Why Onboarding Matters - Learnnovators
E-Learning

The Power of a Good Start: Why Onboarding Matters

The first few days in a new role can set the tone for everything that follows. This article explores why onboarding is more than just paperwork and process—it’s about helping people feel grounded, supported, and ready to contribute. When onboarding is thoughtful and human, it gives new joiners the clarity and confidence they need to hit the ground running. Because a good start doesn’t just ease the transition – it lays the foundation for long-term engagement and growth.

Upskilling and Reskilling - Thumbnail
E-Learning

Navigating Change: Upskill or Reskill?

As technology continues to reshape industries, organisations face a critical question: should they upskill their teams – or reskill them entirely? This article breaks down the difference between the two, explores when and why each approach makes sense, and highlights how aligning employee growth with business goals can lead to long-term success. Whether it’s helping people sharpen existing skills or preparing them for entirely new roles, the key lies in building a culture of continuous learning that’s ready for whatever comes next.

Learning Culture vs. Training Culture - Thumbnail - Learnnovators
E-Learning

Learning Culture vs Training Culture

Many workplaces still treat learning as a one-off task—something to tick off after a course or compliance module. But real growth doesn’t happen in isolated sessions. This article unpacks the key difference between a training culture and a learning culture—and why it matters. While one ends with the session, the other is woven into everyday work, conversations, and challenges. The piece offers a clear perspective on how organisations can move beyond checklists and create an environment where learning is ongoing, meaningful, and part of the culture.

Corporate Culture - Learnnovators
E-Learning

Corporate Culture vs. Company Values

It’s easy to print your values on posters. It’s much harder to live by them every day. This article unpacks the growing disconnect between company values and actual workplace culture – and why that gap matters. It explores how culture isn’t built on buzzwords but on behaviours, decisions, and what leaders choose to reward. When values are lived, they create trust and meaning. When they aren’t backed by action, people notice. The piece offers practical ways to close the gap and build a culture that not only says the right things, but does them too.

Micromanaging - Blog - Learnnovators
E-Learning

Stop Micromanaging. Start Trusting.

Micromanaging rarely starts with bad intentions—but it can quietly erode trust, stifle creativity, and drain ownership from even the most capable teams. In remote settings, where reassurance can’t come from a smile or a quick hallway chat, the impact runs deeper. This piece unpacks how micromanagement shows up, why it’s often invisible to the manager, and what it really takes to build a culture of trust. Because real support isn’t about control—it’s about creating space for people to take the lead, make mistakes, and grow.

How to Develop and Retain a Highly Engaged Workforce - Learnnovators
E-Learning

How to Develop and Retain a Highly Engaged Workforce

Engagement isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about getting the everyday things right. This article breaks down what it really takes to build and keep a workforce that’s motivated, committed, and ready to grow with the company. From meaningful onboarding and recognition to encouraging autonomy and psychological safety, it’s a practical look at how small, thoughtful efforts can add up to a culture people want to be part of—not just today, but for the long haul.

REQUEST DEMO