Recently, I was fortunate enough to work alongside Miranda Greenberg and Marci Morford on one of the most creative and fun projects I’ve ever worked on in my career.
I wrote about this in a two-part case study: An New Employee Orientation Overhaul and The Exciting Conclusion: What Happens When A New Hire Orientation Becomes a Game.
After speaking with Alex Moore at the Association for Talent Development, we were also given an opportunity to share about adding gamification in new hire orientation, which was published in TD magazine.
Why Publish about Our Experience with Gamification in New Hire Orientation?
Why should L&D professionals (or any professionals in any profession) seek to have their thoughts and perspectives and experiences and case studies published in industry publications when they could simply share these things on their own blog or website? Here are 5 reasons:
1. Reach A Wider Audience
My blog may reach a few thousand people each week. Industry publications afford me an opportunity to have my thoughts and ideas read by tens or hundreds of thousands of learning and development colleagues across the country and around the world.
2. Gravitas
The editors at industry publications don’t simply publish any idea that’s pitched. Getting published in an industry magazine means something.
3. Work with the Pros
I’ve been blogging for five years, but it doesn’t mean I’m a great writer. Every time I’ve had a chance to publish an article for TD magazine, I’ve been paired with editors who seem to possess superpowers in helping my ideas and initial drafts turn into written works of art.
4. Writing for Publication Requires More Disciplined Writing
Even great editors can only help you out so much. Writing for something that will be published requires discipline, focus, and ruthless prioritization. When you’re on a hard word count, you have very little leeway to go off on tangents and digressions.
5. Become a Thought Leader
I roll my eyes when I see “thought leader” in someone’s LinkedIn profile. You can’t declare yourself a thought leader. It’s not up to you. If you’re able to offer a new perspective, a fresh take or a deep insight into a topic and if you’re fortunate enough to have an article accepted into a publication, others may like what you have to say, adopt your suggestions and ideas, and in turn others may label you a thought leader in the space.
Someday, I may have a book flow from my fingertips. For now, I’m happy to continue collecting my thoughts through these blog posts, and every once in a while I’m humbled to know publications like TD magazine think their readership would benefit from my thoughts.
What are your thoughts on gamification in new hire orientation? What do you think about sharing your successes in a publication?
