The Grandfather of Gamification and The Game of Work

Forbes magazine has called him the grandfather of gamification. He’s also the best-selling author of The Game of Work and has scored other winners with Scorekeeping for Success, and Managing the Obvious. Behind his back, I’m calling Chuck Coonradt the owner, general manager, and MVP head coach of The Game of Work who should have his own wing in the Consultant’s Hall of Fame. In this memorable conversation, we learn also The Game of Work is for parents too.

The Big Ideas

• Is There Life After High School by Ralph Keyes?
• Origins of The Game of Work
• The Paul J. Meyer Influence
• The Forbes article on gamification
• Chuck’s favorite Game of Work story is not from the workplace
• The secret sauce to The Game of Work
• Feedback – more frequent and better
• Mark’s favorite story from the book
• The Field of Play
• Scorekeeping on a sinking ship
• The dark side of numbers
• Can anyone be a coach?

In the absence of clearly defined goals, we are forced to concentrate on activity and ultimately become enslaved by it.

Chuck Coonradt

The Five Principles of The Motivation of Recreation

1. Clearly defined goals
2. Better scorekeeping and scorecards
3. More frequent feedback
4. A higher degree of personal choice of methods
5. Consistent coaching

People will pay for the privilege of working harder than they will work when they are paid.

Chuck Coonradt

Chuck Coonradt’s Books

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If winning isn’t important, why do we spend all that money on scoreboards?

Chuck Coonradt

Books Recommended by Chuck

1. Good to Great by Jim Collins
2. The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
3. A Game Plan for Life by John Wooden
4. Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

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