Participation Rules

If we are trying to build a better relationship with others, we need their participation.

Want to engage your Customers in your products and services? Get them involved in meaningful ways.

Want to create greater levels of success and productivity as a leader? Involve those you lead more fully.

Want to make the learning you are facilitating more lasting and relevant? Get the learners involved in both the planning and execution of the learning.

Want your team to feel more cohesive? Get everyone more involved.

It is a universal truth that we need to get people participating in actions, activities and decisions if we want greater levels of engagement.

It is because of this truth that I was enamored by a post called "The Next Sims" at B2Day blog.

This post talks about Spore, the next game by the creators of The Sims, that will come out in about a year. While I encourage you to read it for yourself, here is a relevant snippet...

For the longest time, games have been considered almost a new form of movie, but that ignores the really interesting opportunities we have in games. Games are in a unique position to bring content consumers into the role of creators.

In short, this game will engage participants in the creation of their own characters and worlds, and will allow players to eventually enter the worlds created by other players.

Not only does this participation make sense from the perspective of the players...but from the designers as well - they are now co-creators of the game with the players.

If the game keeps this universal truth of participation in mind, I believe it will be a runaway hit.