4 Ways to transform your intranet into an olympic playground

If you’re like me, you probably get super excited when the Olympic Games come around.

Maybe it’s the anticipation of waiting four long years, or the awe of witnessing what these incredible athletes can achieve. Or perhaps it’s the unifying feeling of rooting for our country and athletes that makes it so special.

Unfortunately very few of us have the opportunity to compete at an Olympic level. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of our competitive spirit. With the help of your company’s intranet and a dash of creativity, you can transform everyday work into an exciting competition.

Here’s how you can use your intranet to host your own workplace Summer Olympics, boosting morale and enhancing team dynamics along the way.

Start with an opening ceremony
Begin by announcing the workplace Olympics on your intranet, complete with an engaging video or post that outlines the games and the rules. Create a dedicated Olympics-themed homepage that can serve as the event hub, featuring leaderboards, daily highlights, and schedules.

*tip: Our Falling Fun feature can spice up your page with falling Olympic medals

Determine which competitive games to play
Depending on your industry, workplace environment, and company size, there are many different intranet games you can play. However, if you are looking to enhance intranet adoption, try out some of these:

• Trivia relay: Set up a daily trivia contest covering everything from company history to fun facts about colleagues. Employees answer questions through the intranet, and each correct answer scores points for their department’s team.
• Scavenger hunt sprint: Create a digital scavenger hunt where employees have to find specific information or items scattered across different parts of the intranet. The first to submit all correct answers wins the gold for the day. (See how one of our customers led a virtual treasure hunt as part of their new intranet launch. It helped build familiarity with the new intranet and offered an excellent prize worth winning.)
• Idea marathon: Encourage innovation with a challenge that asks employees to submit ideas for improving the workplace—whether it’s a new project proposal or a process enhancement. Colleagues can vote for their favorite ideas via their intranet.
• Feedback high jump: Promote a culture of constructive feedback by having team members provide positive feedback on each other’s recent projects or presentations. Each piece of feedback scores points, pushing participants to aim higher and higher.

Incorporate some gamification
Gamification is the application of game-design elements and principles in non-game contexts. Introducing game-like elements to your intranet platform could include badges, levels, points, and rewards.

But gamification isn’t just about playing games; it’s about enhancing engagement and motivation. By introducing elements of play into routine activities, you can significantly boost participation and enthusiasm. Highlight achievements and progress on your intranet’s homepage to keep everyone invested in the ongoing competition.

Our customer, RICK successfully used gamification to drive intranet adoption after launching their intranet. They implemented a points-based system rewarding tasks like creating intranet pages or commenting on content. Individuals and office locations received medals and prizes for their participation. “The gamification has been incredibly effective in boosting intranet adoption. Almost everyone participated, including many we were not expecting,” said Jennifer Shenefield, Communications Manager at RICK.

Don’t forget the closing ceremonies: awarding the medals
Conclude your Intranet games with a virtual closing ceremony. Celebrate everyone’s participation and make sure to acknowledge individual and team contributions. Award digital medals and certificates that can be displayed on employee profiles on the intranet, and perhaps even offer some real-world prizes.

Why stop at summer?
The beauty of intranet games is that they aren’t limited to the summer. You can host themed competitions throughout the year to maintain high spirits and a connected workforce.

Whether it’s the Summer Olympics, the World Cup, or Hollywood-inspired awards, the possibilities are endless. By turning your intranet into an arena for friendly competition, not only do you make work more enjoyable, but you also foster a strong sense of community and teamwork. So, lace up your digital sneakers, grab your virtual torch, and let the games begin!