Ignite commitment by issuing a challenge they can’t resist

When Maya took over the small design studio, revenue had flatlined. Month after month, her team missed targets. Rather than issuing another memo, she gathered them and said, “I have a challenge: let’s increase our client pitches from eight per month to fifteen. If we do it, I’ll throw a pizza party on Friday.” Faces lit up—this wasn’t an order, it was a dare. Over the next two weeks they brainstormed 20 new concepts, upped their outreach and tracked progress on a whiteboard. By the end of the month, they’d hit 16 pitches. The studio’s confidence soared and revenues jumped 25% the following quarter.

Behavioral science shows that challenges tap into intrinsic motivation by framing tasks as games. Gamification research finds that adding a simple goal-and-reward dynamic can boost performance by up to 50%. By turning a dry target into a playful contest, you trigger creativity, focus and a shared sense of purpose.

You announce the dare, set a clear number and deadline, then watch how a bit of playful competition unlocks surprising energy and results. Give one bold challenge today.