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Amanda Setili explains why the structure of a video game can be applied to business to attract and leverage top talent. 

There’s a reason that the video game industry is larger ($179.7 billion according to IDC data) than the movie and music industries combined: playing video games makes players feel good, and for reasons that are easy to document.

Todd Harris, founder and CEO of Skillshot Media, was the one who first made me realize this. For years, he has been involved first in video games and more recently in the esports space. 

Here are four key elements that define the video game experience:

The player has control/agency.

There are clear goals, with incremental levels of difficulty. Players can see themselves improving.

Players get instant feedback on the success or failure of their strategies. Games promote a growth mindset, in that players learn by failing.

Players are interconnected to a wider community.

When you step back from this list, it’s obvious that this isn’t just a list of what makes players happy; it’s a list of what makes most human beings happy.

So if you want to build a workplace that is truly motivating and productive, design these elements into your organization. Embed them deeply!

To put this another way, TV is to video games as a demoralizing company is to a highly engaging one. Watching television, most of us zone out; there’s no way to “win” or to add value. Whether you’re watching a rom-com or an action movie, there’s no path to self-improvement and no means of building a stronger community. But all those things are possible for video game players.

Read the full article, What Video Games Teach Us About Running a Great Company, on LinkedIn.