If you’ve ever tried to motivate a team with pizza parties or ping-pong tables, you know gimmicks don’t move the needle. Real productivity comes from people actually wanting to do the work—and sometimes, a little friendly competition can help. That’s where custom challenges in Bunchball come in. If you’re a manager, team lead, or even a hands-on HR pro who wants to make gamification work for your team (without the eye rolls), this guide’s for you.
Below, you'll find a no-nonsense walkthrough for setting up Bunchball challenges that actually fit your team, plus some honest advice on what to skip.
Why bother with custom challenges?
Before we get to the “how,” let’s be real: a bad challenge is worse than no challenge. If you’re just throwing badges at people for showing up, nobody cares. But if you design something that fits your team’s real work and gives them a reason to care—even a little—suddenly, you’re onto something.
Custom challenges let you: - Nudge teams toward real goals (not just busywork) - Make wins visible, without being cheesy - Mix up the usual routine when motivation’s lagging
But skip the generic stuff. “Log in every day” challenges? Total waste. Focus on what actually moves the needle for your team.
Step 1: Get clear on what you want to change
Don’t even open Bunchball yet. First, figure out what you’re actually trying to improve. Is it faster response times? More cross-team collaboration? Fewer missed deadlines? Gamification works best when you tie it to real, specific outcomes.
Tips for this step: - Talk to your team. Ask what slows them down or gets ignored. - Pick one or two problems. Don’t try to “gamify everything.” - Make it measurable. If you can’t track it, skip it.
Pro tip: If you’re struggling to find a good target, start with something already tracked in your project management tool. Don’t invent new work just for the sake of a challenge.
Step 2: Sketch out your challenge before touching Bunchball
A little planning saves a lot of headaches later. Jot down: - What behavior you want (e.g., “Submit project updates before Friday”) - Who’s involved (individuals, teams, or everyone?) - How you’ll measure success (number of updates, time saved, etc.) - How long it’ll last (a week? a month?)
What works: Short, clear challenges with a real reward—even if it’s just bragging rights or a leaderboard spot.
What doesn’t: Vague goals (“Be more proactive!”), challenges that run forever, or anything that feels like micromanagement.
Step 3: Set up your custom challenge in Bunchball
Alright, now it’s time to log in. Here’s the basic process (your admin screens may look a little different depending on your Bunchball setup, but the steps are pretty standard):
1. Log into the Bunchball admin portal
You’ll need admin rights. If you don’t have them, now’s the time to ask IT (or whoever manages your Bunchball account).
2. Navigate to the Challenges module
Usually, there’s a “Challenges” or “Missions” section in the main dashboard. Click through until you see options to create or manage challenges.
3. Start a new (custom) challenge
- Click “Create Challenge” or “New Challenge.”
- Give it a clear, no-nonsense name. (Skip “Rockstar of the Month”—go with “On-Time Project Updates” or whatever you mapped out earlier.)
4. Define the challenge mechanics
- Action(s) to be tracked: Pick the specific activity you want to reward. This could be logging a certain task, submitting a report, closing tickets, etc.
- Frequency: How often do they need to do it? (Once? Five times? Daily?)
- Duration: Set start and end dates—don’t leave it open-ended.
- Eligible participants: Choose if this is for individuals, teams, or everyone.
5. Set up points, badges, or rewards (if you want)
- Assign a point value or badge for completing the challenge.
- Decide if there’s a leaderboard or public recognition.
- If you’re offering a real-world reward (gift cards, lunch, etc.), spell it out.
Caution: Don’t overload on badges or points. Too many, and they lose their meaning. Keep it simple.
6. Add clear instructions and context
In the challenge description, explain: - What counts (and what doesn’t) - Why you’re running this challenge - What people get out of it (even if it’s just a shout-out)
Pro tip: Skip the fluffy language. Your team will respect you for being direct.
7. Preview and launch
Double-check your settings. Make sure you’re tracking the right activity and that only the right people are included. When you’re sure, hit launch.
Step 4: Communicate (without the cringe)
Once your challenge is live, tell your team what’s up—preferably in person, over chat, or in a team meeting. Don’t just rely on auto-emails from Bunchball.
- Be honest about what you’re trying to improve.
- Tell them how to participate, and what’s in it for them.
- Invite feedback—seriously, ask what they think.
What to avoid: Don’t oversell it. If you hype it up too much, people will tune you out.
Step 5: Watch how it goes—and adjust
Don’t “set it and forget it.” Check in on your challenge dashboard after a few days and again at the halfway point.
- Are people participating? If not, why?
- Is the challenge too easy, too hard, or just confusing?
- Is it actually helping with the goal you picked?
If something’s off, tweak the challenge or how you’re communicating it. You can pause, edit, or even scrap it and try again. Nobody gets this perfect on the first try.
Warning signs it’s not working: - Zero participation (people might not know about it, or maybe it’s too much effort) - Complaints about “busywork” or unfairness - Gaming the system (people doing the bare minimum for points)
Step 6: Wrap up and share results
When the challenge ends, don’t let it fizzle out. Announce the results and thank everyone who joined in—yes, even if it didn’t go perfectly.
- Share a quick recap: what changed, who won (if anyone), and what you learned.
- Recognize effort, not just results. Sometimes the best outcome is seeing people try something new, even if it’s messy.
Pro tip: Ask for honest feedback so you can make your next challenge better.
What actually works (and what to skip)
After seeing a lot of these roll out, here’s what tends to work: - Keep it short. One- or two-week sprints get more engagement. - Tie it to real work. If it doesn’t help the team hit real goals, skip it. - Public recognition > swag. People like seeing their name on a board more than another company mug. - One challenge at a time. Too many, and nobody plays.
And what to ignore: - Cheesy themes. You’re not running summer camp. - Overcomplicated rules. If it takes more than 30 seconds to explain, it’s too much. - Mandatory participation. Forced fun is the fastest way to kill morale.
Keep it simple and keep iterating
The best Bunchball challenges aren’t flashy—they’re useful. Start small, keep it honest, and pay attention to what actually gets people moving. If something flops, try again with a different angle. Your team will appreciate you for respecting their time and focusing on what matters.
Most of all: remember, gamification is a tool, not magic. Use it to make real work a little more visible and maybe a little more fun. That’s enough.