The Game Changer E-Book

Jason Fox

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 313

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Use the science of motivation with the power of game design to unlock motivation and drive progress in your organisation. There are two conventional ways to approach motivation: set goals and try to change attitudes and beliefs (which takes a lot of personalised effort); or develop incentives and rewards to inspire effort (which takes a lot of money). This book shows you how to take a third new approach - designing the work itself to be inherently motivating. Combining the best elements of three distinct fields--motivational science, game design, and agile management--this book shows you how to positively influence behaviour through better work and project design. This game changing book: * Gives you a refreshing science-based approach to the classic challenge of motivation in the workplace * Is ideal for any leader or manager looking to take their workplace culture in a new direction * Includes practical advice for creating highly productive, motivated and innovative teams * Is written by a motivation strategy and design expert who consults on leadership and change management to a wide range of clients - from the executives of multinational organisations, through to the directors of switched-on startups. The Game Changer will show you how to unlock creative, productive and collaborative work. It is the perfect resource for forward-thinking leaders in organisations and teams focused on crafting a work culture that gets the best out of their people.

Leseprobe

Contents

Cover

Epigraph

Title Page

Copyright

Game Changer

About The Author

Acknowledgements

The Big Question: How do you Motivate People to do Great Work?

How to use this book

PART I: THE MOTIVATION SAVVY-UP

Chapter 1: A Most Alluring MotivationaL Folklore

Stuff gets warped

Positive thinking and the danger of belief

Overcoming the cult of success

The secret to secrets (and other things you don't know)

Declaring war on ‘just because’

The allure of quick fixes

Motivation — strategy and design

The irony of expertise, and this book

Chapter Summary

Chapter 2: An Imperative for Change

Everybody loves change, right?

Change is hard

A paradox for leaders

The Valve example

It's robots vs ninjas

Chapter Summary

Chapter 3: And Yet … the Big Motivation Gap

Constructive Discontent

Bridging the gap

It all comes back to the gap

Chapter Summary

PART II: GETTING YOUR GAME ON

Chapter 4: The Root of All Game-Changing Hacks

The Progress Principle

Conservation of effort

A most incorrect yet utterly useful way to view motivation

Visibility before accountability

Chapter Summary

Chapter 5: Get your Head into the Game

The myths that surround games

The trouble with the word ‘game’

The anatomy of a game

Goals, rules, feedback — the ultimate diagnostic

Chapter Summary

Chapter 6: A Model Game Changer

A theory of fun

A vision of play and possibility

The game changer model

Chapter Summary

PART III: CHANGING THE GAME

Chapter 7: Lift your Game

Overcoming self-sabotage

Solve motivational challenges by asking the right questions

Chapter Summary

Chapter 8: Change the Game

Missions and quests

Rituals and artefacts

Contextual momentum

Shaping culture

Shifting dynamics

Chapter Summary

Chapter 9: You, the Game Changer

An epic quest…

Index

Game over? Nay — game on!

Learn More with Practical Advice from our Experts

If you are looking for a practical, science-based guide to leading change — then you must read this book! It is the ultimate guide for driving real progress.

— Dr Amantha Imber, Head Inventiologist of Inventium, Innovation Scientist and best-selling author of The Creativity Formula

~

This book explodes the myths of motivation and maps a world of willing, voluntary and enthusiastic work.

— Dan Gregory, Behavioural Strategist and Director of The Impossible Institute and Gruen Planet panellist

~

The Game Changer busts futile myths in motivational folklore, and takes an evidence-based approach to the (art and) science of driving change. You will benefit greatly from the insights and design intent evident in this cheekily heretical and iconoclastic game changer!

— Anders Sörman-Nilsson, Futurist and Founder of Thinque and author of Digilogue

~

This is an extraordinary book—a complete game changer for motivation and influence.

— Matt Church, best-selling author of Thought Leaders and Amplifiers, and Founder of Thought Leaders Global

First published in 2014 by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 42 McDougall St, Milton Qld 4064

Office also in Melbourne

Typeset in Weidemann Std 10/12.5 pt

© Dr Jason Fox

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

Author:Fox, Jason, 1983- author.Title:The Game Changer: how to use the science of motivation with the power of game design to shift behaviour, shape culture and make clever happen/Dr Jason Fox.ISBN:9780730307648 (pbk)9780730307662 (ebook)Notes:Includes index.Subjects:Motivation (Psychology).Management.Games.Leadership.Employee motivation.Creative ability in business.Creative thinking.Corporate culture.Dewey Number:650.1

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, a fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review), no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, communicated or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. All inquiries should be made to the publisher at the address above.

Cover design by Xou Creative, www.xou.com.au

All illustrations by Dr Jason Fox

Disclaimer

The material in this publication is of the nature of general comment only, and does not represent professional advice. It is not intended to provide specific guidance for particular circumstances and it should not be relied on as the basis for any decision to take action or not take action on any matter which it covers. Readers should obtain professional advice where appropriate, before making any such decision. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the author and publisher disclaim all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any person taking or not taking action based on the information in this publication.

Game Changer

noun: a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Jason Fox is a global authority on motivation strategy and design, and he's on an epic quest to liberate the world from poorly designed work.

After sneaking into the Ivory Towers of academia and levelling up with a PhD in record time, Jason now works with forward-thinking business leaders, showing them how to use the best elements of motivation science and game design to influence behaviour, drive progress and make clever happen.

He has advised on motivation strategy, change management and good gamification design to a range of organisations — from multinational companies like PepsiCo, Gartner and Toyota; to the big banks, universities, mining, telecommunication and pharmaceutical companies; right through to grassroots educational organisations and savvy startups.

Jason lives in Melbourne, Australia, the hipster capital of beards and good coffee. When not gallivanting around the world speaking at events (as the science-based alternative to the fist-pumping rah-rah motivational corporate speakers) or immersed in game-changing work with clients, Jason enjoys partaking in extreme sports like reading, coffee snobbery and fruit ninja.

Learn more at www.drjasonfox.com.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing a book is bloody hard work. I'd love to pretend that I gamed my own motivation, and that the whole thing was double rainbows, unicorns and cupcakes — but the fact is this book would not have been possible without the support of some truly inspiring people. The type of folk you feel lucky to have met and have in your life. The people that keep you real, and actively contribute to your quest.

For me, this adventure was kickstarted by my good mates and thought leaders Matt Church, Darren Hill and Peter Cook. They've all published brilliant books with Wiley, and all worked to sneak me in the back door to speak to the right people (and helped to keep me on track). You guys are legendary.

Those right people at Wiley were Kristen, Elizabeth and Keira — all super brilliant. Kristen was enthusiastic and supportive of the concept right from the start. Thank you for helping me to keep the book funky and fresh. And Elizabeth, thank you for being so kind and patient during those prolonged bouts of perfectionism.

This book wouldn't be the book it is without the help of a professional editor. I've got to give a big thanks to Jem Bates, who has completely revolutionised my perceptions of the editing process. His thorough, empathetic and constructive approach has made this a much better book.

I must also give thanks for some of the support I had on the sidelines. Jen Storey, your editing help early in the game got me across the line a number of times — thanks for contributing your wit and helping to dig me out of a few ruts. And Russel Remigio, my ‘Wonderuss’ assistant — thank you for embarking upon the obscure research quests that contributed to this book (and curtailing the entropy in my absence).

Of course there's also the family and friends one neglects as they conquer a project like this. Thanks guys for still liking me, even as I become ever more obscure.

And then there are the clients I've had the honour of working with. You've all helped shape the ideas in this book, and I'm mighty grateful.

But the biggest thanks of all must go to my gorgeous wife, Kim Lam (aka ‘Dangerlam’). This book would not be possible without her. Kim has supported me throughout it all. Even when I was away working with clients overseas, and writing this book instead of cooking dinner, or bringing the laptop to restaurants to work on this through dinner, Kim has been ridiculously supportive of this project. Thank you darling, for the light and the laughter you bring to my every day. I love you to bits.

Ah! And thanks to you too. For being the type that reads the acknowledgements, and of course for supporting this book. I'm already liking the cut of your jib. Hat tips to your magnificence! We're going to get along mighty fine…

THE BIG QUESTION: HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO DO GREAT WORK?

‘You can do it!’ roars the motivational speaker. ‘All you need to do is BELIEVE in your ability to ACHIEVE, and you will SUCCEED! Repeat after me: conceive, believe, achieve. Conceive, believe, achieve. Conceive, believe, achieve…’ Fist-pumps abound.

Except… you know motivation doesn't work like that. You can inspire people — and be inspired — all you like. But unless you change the game, nothing changes. Inspiration is like milk: it expires. And what you're left with is the work required to make your goals and ideas happen.

‘So let's just offer a bonus reward', says the manager, eager to see change happen. ‘If we offer a bonus, people will do it.’

And sure, you can change the game by adding in a reward. But, you'll be shifting the motivational dynamics and potentially hobbling creativity and collaboration in the process. People might get so focused on the reward that they take shortcuts that undermine the whole process.

Motivation is a tricky thing. And work is changing.

To stay ahead of the game, and to make great things happen, we need to change the way we design our projects and processes so we can sustain and amplify the desire, or motivation, to do great things.