In Africa they say that “alone you go faster, but together you go further”. In the business world it works exactly like this. In fact, all of them allocate a lot of resources in the formation of teams capable of expressing a value that is greater than the simple sum of the parts. In short, companies are not only looking for young talents, but also young talents who can work perfectly in harmony with each other. So, guys, the sooner you learn to work as a team, the sooner you will have access to great professional satisfactions.
But how can you train this soft skill if you are not yet part of a corporate team? The answer seems obvious only after reading it: by playing. More precisely, we are talking about an innovative and dynamic approach to training, on which we at Artémat have based the University Talent Challenge format. We are talking about “gamification”.
This is a technique that uses game dynamics to stimulate engagement and collaboration. The final phase of the University Talent Challenge, in fact, is a Business Game, a simulated but extremely realistic experience, which places teams of participants in front of challenges and problems regarding business management. In this context, the individual talent is important, but it is the synergy of the group that leads to ideal solutions.
“Role playing” is the key element of gamification. During the simulation, participants spontaneously and naturally take on a role within the team, compare ideas, overcome obstacles and make decisions together. In the context of the University Talent Challenge, working together is also an opportunity for cultural contamination that can also prove profitable on a creative level. In fact, the teams are made up of undergraduates and recent graduates from the faculties of Engineering, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Computer Science and Physics of all Italian universities.
The game phases take place in a protected environment, that is, free from the inhibiting psychological factors that one might be exposed to in a real workplace. Since it is a fiction, one is not afraid to speak one's mind, one does not fear failure nor does one feel the weight of responsibility, because one cannot cause harm. In this context, talent is expressed to the maximum, therefore the potential of the group is also increased.
Why does it work? Simple, play has an incredible power over the human psyche: it stimulates enthusiasm, (healthy) competition and determination. When you play as a team, as happens during our Challenge, another fundamental aspect emerges: cooperation. Victory is a common goal, a milestone to reach together. And everyone plays a crucial role in reaching it.
Theory taught in the classroom is essential, but it is in the real world that skills are put to the test. The University Talent Challenge represents the perfect bridge between these two worlds, because it provides participants with the ideal opportunity to apply what they have learned, bringing value to the team to which they are assigned.
Participating in the UTC is not only an educational experience, but a real preview of what awaits you in the working world. And during the challenge you will realize that, in the professional universe, individual talent can shine, but it is the set of stars that lights up the sky.
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