Ever feel like tackling business challenges is a slog? What if you could flip that feeling—turning problems into playful, focused challenges that energise your team and spark real results?
Welcome to the world of MiniGames—a powerful concept from The Great Game of Business that helps businesses make serious improvements while having serious fun.
What Are MiniGames?
The Great Game of Business approach is built on a bold idea: the best way to run a business is to educate your people, give them a voice, and share in the financial rewards. MiniGames are a bite-sized version of that philosophy—short-term, high-focus improvement initiatives designed to engage your team and drive meaningful change.
Think of a MiniGame as a 2–12 week sprint focused on fixing a pain point, seizing an opportunity, or simply boosting momentum. With a clear goal, a team scoreboard, and a meaningful reward, MiniGames inject energy, create focus, and—importantly—build a culture of ownership.
Why They Work
MiniGames close the gap between strategy and execution. They:
🔍 Focus attention on a specific challenge
💬 Encourage cross-team communication
🚀 Drive fast, visible wins
🤝 Strengthen engagement and culture
💰 Often lead to financial uplift
They’re perfect for reinforcing habits, trialling improvements, and getting buy-in on change.
How to Design a MiniGame in 8 Simple Steps
- Choose Your Focus – What’s the issue or opportunity? It could be reducing rework, improving response times, or increasing upsells. Keep it specific and actionable.
- Define Success – What does “winning” look like? Set a measurable target you want to hit within the game period.
- Pick the Players – Involve the people who can actually influence the outcome. Smaller groups often work best.
- Set the Timeframe – Keep it short and sharp—2 weeks to 3 months. Long enough to make a difference, short enough to maintain momentum.
- Create a Theme + Scoreboard – Make it visual, catchy, and fun. Scoreboards drive visibility, accountability, and energy. Even better—let the team help design it.
- Decide on the Reward – What’s in it for the team? Think beyond cash. Experiences, time off, recognition, or even quirky challenges (like “boss wears a costume”) can work wonders.
- Build in a Check-In Rhythm – Weekly updates or quick huddles keep the MiniGame alive. Celebrate small wins along the way.
- Co-Design It With Your Team – Involve the team from the start. Co-creation builds commitment and excitement.
Access the MiniGame Template
A Few Tips for Success:
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Keep it light and clear—avoid over-complicating the rules
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Make sure progress is trackable
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Link the game to a real business benefit
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Celebrate the finish line—even if you fall short, reflect and learn
Final Thoughts
MiniGames are a simple but powerful way to boost performance, culture, and engagement. Whether you’re a team of 5 or 500, the principles are the same—clarity, ownership, and a little fun go a long way.
So, what challenge could your team tackle next?