Or at least it should be.

I've come to the realization that I'm bordering on the obsessed when it comes to the applications of gamification as a business strategy.

I read a very creative post last week by Lauren Carlson on the potential for gamification of help desk support. The conversation in the comment honed in on the question - why limit it to help desk? Other enterprise functions could benefit from leveraging the methods and psychology of gamification. The benefits include greater engagement, productivity, innovation, employee and customer satisfaction and financial performance.

As long as the rewards and incentives are aligned with your strategy, the possibilities are endless to create engaging experiences all across your business ecosystem.

Thinking back to the dinosaur days of my early career, I realized these really aren't new concepts. Are they? I started my career in sales. Everything we did was a competition that leveraged a host of rewards and recognition, both personal and among groups and colleagues. Understanding gamification goes beyond simple competition and recognition, but these really are the basic elements.

So, like the moment when The Grinch felt his heart growth three sizes, I'm overcome! Could it be? Perhaps this is a sign of the return of competition. A return to the days when not everyone made the team; not everyone got a trophy.

Game on!