MOJAM Internal CS Tournaments: How We Reimagined Teambuilding
Still think that team building is just pizza on Fridays and desks in the office? What if we go a step further and really unite the team through a common hobby that drives the team. In our case, gaming. At the gaming product company MOJAM, we have been strengthening the BRO culture for several years and motivating teammates to get to know each other better outside the team through internal Counter-Strike competitions. More details about the motivation for holding such tournaments, their organization and, of course, honest feedback from modders in the article. 🚀
Still think that team building is just pizza on Fridays and desks in the office? What if we go a step further and really unite the team through a common hobby that drives the team. In our case, gaming. At the gaming product company MOJAM, we have been strengthening the BRO culture for several years and motivating teammates to get to know each other better outside the team through internal Counter-Strike competitions. More details about the motivation for holding such tournaments, their organization and, of course, honest feedback from modders in the article. 🚀
Why are CS tournaments a must-have for us? 🤔
From the very beginning, we took the initiative to hold tournaments with our teammates serving. This turned out to be a real match for our team because:
We are a BRO & PRO company that creates products for games, including CS. So gaming is embedded in the DNA of all our internal and external activities.
People-first is always our approach. That’s why we at MOJAM want to achieve the WOW effect and give teammates the opportunity to prove themselves.
Tournaments are a great opportunity for modders to hone their CS skills. Our team includes Counter-Strike MVPs with 10,000+ hours of gameplay, and those who are just starting to get acquainted with the world of CS. Playing together is a chance to look at CS in a new way. You can better understand the psychology, needs, and habits of novice players or, conversely, real PROs. These insights will be useful when working on a product aimed at different target audiences of gamers.
Our epic flow of tournament organization🔥
Training for an epic event is 80% of its success. That’s why we pay attention to details during organization and integrate player feedback. We have already held 9 tournaments and managed to build a PRO approach to their organization, which boosts convenience and fun for teammates:
True Team. We form teams through a short questionnaire. In it, we definitely learn about: the number of hours in CS, the maximum rank or points in Premier, and the level on FACEIT. This is necessary to understand the skill level of each participant and assemble the most balanced team compositions for a good skating. We also ask whether the teammate wants to entrust the selection of the team to the organizers, or whether he has his own vision and wants to assemble his own team of modders. We prepare cards with brief information about the players to help everyone get to know each other better and get to know each other. As a result of each tournament, the teams look new — and that’s the whole point.
Hard Skill Boost. Next, we help teammates improve their gaming skills with experts in the field. We have already invited captains of real esports teams twice — they became coaches for each of those participating in the tournament. This is an opportunity not only to identify «blind spots» in the game, but also to tighten the strategy before the competition. And also — a chance for the team to play together, establish communication and vibe.
Major-Level Prod. We turn an internal tournament into a real esports event. The MOJAM team turns on the full production: we invite a caster, launch a YouTube broadcast, create an atmosphere that you can immerse yourself in even from the spectator’s seat. So modjamers who are not in the game also feel the drive, emotions and become part of this movement.
Work Hard, Play Hard. We award tournament winners with unique artifacts. We create one-of-a-kind trophies that cannot be bought or duplicated. Each award is personalized and crafted to a high standard. Check out trophies from past tournaments below 👇
What do teammates say? MOJAM tournaments through the eyes of players 🤜🤛
It wasn’t all in vain: teammates drew attention to the company’s level of approach and immersion in gaming to the max.
SMM/Content Specialist Semen liked this teambuilding format
«Let’s start with something simple — this is the first company where tournaments are held, although I have worked in esports teams before. This already raises the vibe of working here to a cosmic level. I can’t miss the level of organization: professional contractors are involved in it, there is an online broadcast with commentators, after the tournament, movies with highlights from all matches are prepared, and I could write a separate essay about the unique cups. Every time they are new, and every time they are more detailed and cool. MOJAM is a rather unique place, because everyone is somehow connected to their hobby, so they approach work differently than in classic companies. I’m not saying that classic teambuilding doesn’t work, but this format is fully revealed here. Because even teammates who don’t play CS can congratulate you on your victory the next day at the meet, because they are interested in even just watching it.»
Content Manager Oleksandr sees tournaments as a great chance for team bonding
«I really like the format of internal tournaments, because it combines several things at once: team spirit, the excitement of the game due to the desire to get prizes among players of a similar level to you. The game reveals traits that are not always noticeable in work — someone becomes a caller, someone shows themselves individually, someone becomes more emotional. This really brings the team closer together, because after the tournaments there are many topics for jokes and memes. I remember the clutch of one of the players on my team, where we were losing, and he remained 1 in 5 and won the round. It didn’t bring us victory, but it gave a lot of emotions in the moment.»
For Recruiter Roman, MOJAM tournaments are the highlight moments of the year at work
«Since I have been working in this company for a long time, I have been very supportive of the idea of organizing tournaments since 2021. So I was glad when we launched them. For me, tournaments at MOJAM are a much more valuable thing than, for example, benefits for the gym or English lessons. This is something unique that you look forward to and prepare for for a long time. I like absolutely everything — from the format to the prizes. The most important thing is that this is not just entertainment, but a joint activity with a team, where thanks to your communication you achieve (or do not achieve) victory. I am looking forward to the next competition and new formats!»
Upgrade your team time to PRO level 🏆
Corporate culture for us is not some formality from 9 to 17, but a shared worldview. It’s about shoot for the stars vision, PRO implementation of plans and sincere camaraderie within the team. Thus, «jamming» becomes a way of life and the basis of the approach to any corporate event.
As Internal Communications Specialist Anastasia, who is the guru of organizing our CS competitions, notes: «As a result, tournaments are a boost to team spirit and a chance to get a real storm of emotions. Yes, the same people play to a greater extent, but teamwork helps to make new acquaintances. In addition, this is how we attract new teammates who are on the same wavelength with us.»
So don’t limit yourself to «traditional» approaches to team building, because in reality the sky is the limit for creativity. And if you want to organize and/or participate in our CS tournaments as a modder — check out the current vacancies. 👀
«Навіть для виробників трун і пам’ятників я писав тексти». Як стати game-тестувальником під час війни: історія колишнього металурга, страховика, копірайтера
34-річний Андрій Зубков під час війни увійшов в IT, докорінно змінивши свою кар'єру і буденне життя. Тепер він QA Engineer у компанії Pingle Game Studio — тестує ігри. А до цього працював на металургійному комбінаті, в страхуванні та навіть копірайтером. Свою історію про вхід в нове життя Андрій розповів dev.ua.
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