Hi  

Ever think about how board games mirror life and work? My family loves strategy games, and my young son even designs his own—his excitement is contagious! Playing these games has so many simple lessons for high performance.

Here are some thoughts on what makes a great game!  And some thinking lately on how these lessons from great games translate into building successful teams and systems:

1. Clear goals

   • How to win in great games is simple, e.g. each square 100 or conquer territories

   • In high performance clarity and alignment on what success looks like is key.
      

2. Simple, engaging rules

   • The best games are easy to learn but also have a depth and strategy

   • In high performance, systems should guide decisions and trigger innovation (better moves).
      

3. Balanced competition

   • Everyone feels they can win, maintaining the energy and ambition

   • In high performance no one wins alone (meaningfully) and seeing your contribution to the team win is key.
      

4. Meaningful choices

   • Every decision impacts forward motion and progress, like choosing the right ladder or managing resources

   • In high performance we prioritise actions with impact and avoid distractions.
      

5. Replayability

   • Games with fresh challenges and opportunity keep players coming back

   • Teams thrive with challenge and space for strategic creativity.
      

6. Immersive themes

   • A great story and some drama makes the game memorable

   • Our strong vision and purpose helps us to 'jump out of bed' to play the game!
      

7. Connection and collaboration

   • Games trigger interaction, alliances or competition.  Solitaire gets boring after a while!

   • High performance is a world of communication and collaboration.  That wins the game.
      

8. Just-right challenge

   • The tension of balancing risks keeps players engaged.  Too easy doesn’t lift our creative thinking

   • Tension and pressure are important and so we can learn to cope and respond without causing burnout.
      

Take a minute to think of your team or organisation as if you are designing a board game for them!

• Define winning: Does everyone know what success looks like?

• Set the rules: Are values and principles guiding decisions?

• Focus on key moves: Are you driving progress or just staying busy?

• Measure progress: Are you tracking and adapting as needed?

• Align the team: Is everyone playing the same game?
   

Why does it matter?

After years of working with high-performing teams I see often where clarity is the ultimate game-changer. Even a 1% misalignment creates friction and blind spots. Simplifying performance—by defining winning, setting rules, and tracking progress—can unlock breakthroughs. High performance might feel like rolling the dice sometimes, but at its core it is a clear, engaging, and simple game to play together!

Play well, go well!

Richard

Let’s explore a performance breakthrough for you! Get in touch for a chat.