Challenges: Step-by-Step Instructions

Challenges are one-time, goal-based activities that encourage engagement and allow employees to self-report completed actions to earn points.

For example, you might create a Challenge for everyone to sign in to Recognize for the first time. Challenges can send automated notifications when a campaign opens and at reminder points during the campaign period, based on the notification settings you enable. Users can view all available Challenges on the Challenges page.

Completed Challenges are not tied to Badges and do not appear on the Stream Page like social recognition Badges. Points are awarded to the submitter once the Challenge is approved, either by a Company Admin or the user’s Manager, depending on your approval settings.

Only Company Admins can create Challenges. They can be open to everyone or assigned to specific groups using Roles, which must be set up beforehand. For more information, see our article How to Add Company Roles in Recognize.  

Company Admin Functions

Company Admins enable Challenges, create and assign them, communicate availability, and review submissions.

How to Enable Challenges

1. Click Menu in the upper right corner of Recognize.
2. Select Company Admin from the drop-down menu. 
3. Select Settings from the left-side navigation menu.
4. In the right-side section jump menu, locate the Challenges section.
5. Toggle Enable Challenges to On.

6. To allow points earned from approved Challenges to be redeemed for rewards, toggle Make points from Challenges redeemable to On.

   Note: Changes are saved automatically. 

How to Create a Challenge

1. Click Menu in the upper right corner of Recognize.
2. Select Company Admin from the drop-down menu. 
3. Select Challenges from the left-side navigation menu.
4. On the Campaigns page, select Create challenge.

Complete the Challenge Form

5. Name (required): Give the Challenge a clear, distinctive name so employees understand its purpose.
6. Points (optional): Enter the number of points employees will earn for an approved submission.
7. Description: Explain what employees need to do to complete the Challenge, including any requirements or deadlines.
8. Categories (optional): Select a category to organize the Challenge and support reporting. Categories must be created beforehand. See How to Use Tags with Recognize.
9. Roles (optional): Select the Company Roles eligible to see and complete the Challenge. Leave this field blank to make it available to all users. Roles must be created beforehand. See How to Add Company Roles in Recognize.
10. Choose your approval settings:
    • Only admin approval?: Turn this on to restrict manual approval to Company Admins. When it is off, both Company Admins and the user’s direct Manager can approve submissions.
    • Auto approve submissions?: Turn this on to approve submissions automatically without manual review.
11. Set Challenge submission limits (per user), if needed. Enter an Amount and choose the applicable option from the drop-down menu. Leave the selection as None if you do not want to set a submission limit.
12. Under Reminders, use the toggles to enable or disable automated notifications. When enabled, notifications are sent at the following points in the campaign period:
    • Open: When the campaign period begins.
    • First Reminder: One-quarter (25%) of the way through the campaign period.
    • Final Reminder: Three-quarters (75%) of the way through the campaign period.
13. Select Save to create the Challenge.

How to Assign a Challenge Using Roles

Note: Company Roles must be created before they can be assigned. Roles can be created manually in the Company Admin portal, through your user sync, or by using Dynamic Roles. See the Company Roles article for more information.

To assign a Challenge using Roles:

1. Click Menu in the upper right corner of Recognize.

2. Select Company Admin from the drop-down menu.

    

3. Select Users from the left-side navigation menu.

4. Select Manage in the top right menu.

    

5. Click the Toggle column visibility icon above the user table.

6. Select Company Roles from the drop-down menu. This adds a Company Roles column to the user table.

    

7. In the Company Roles column, enter the Role that corresponds to your created Challenge. The Challenge will automatically become available to users assigned to that Role.

   

How to Resolve a Challenge as a Company Admin

Once Challenges are created and assigned, users can complete them. Completed Challenges can be approved or denied through the Company Admin portal, the Manager portal, or both, depending on the Challenge settings. 

1. Click Menu in the upper right corner of the screen.

2. Select Company Admin from the drop-down menu.

    

3. Select Challenges from the left-side navigation menu.
4. Filter Challenges by interval or time period as needed.
5. In the Challenges table, review the Status column on the right:

   • Approved: Challenges that have already been approved

   • Denied: Challenges that have already been denied

   • Resolve: Action required to approve or deny the Challenge

6. To take action, select Resolve next to the Challenge.

7. A pop-up window will appear with options to Approve or Deny the Challenge.
8. Optionally, add a message for the submitter.

9. Click Submit to complete the action.

   

Manager Functions

Managers can review and resolve Challenges submitted by their direct reports when the Challenge allows manager approval.

How to Resolve a Challenge as a Manager

1. Click Menu in the upper right corner of the screen.

2. Select Manager Portal from the drop-down menu.

    

3. Select Challenges from the left-side navigation menu.
4. Filter Challenges by interval or time period as needed.
5. In the Challenges table, review the Status column on the right:

   • Approved: Challenges that have already been approved

   • Denied: Challenges that have already been denied

   • Resolve: Action required to approve or deny the Challenge

6. To take action, select Resolve next to the Challenge.

    

7. A pop-up window will appear with options to Approve or Deny the Challenge.
8. Optionally, add a message for the submitter.

9. Click Submit to complete the action.

   

End User Functions

End users can complete available Challenges, submit them for approval, and check the status of their submissions.

How to Complete and Submit a Challenge

1. Select Challenges from the top left navigation menu.
2. Select the Challenge you would like to complete. 
3. Enter a summary of the Challenge you completed.
4. Select the name of the Challenge you completed.
5. Enter how many times the Challenge was completed.
6. Add any additional comments related to the Challenge.
7. If you would like to submit an additional Challenge, select + Add Challenge and enter the corresponding information.

8. Click Submit to send your Challenge submission(s) for approval.

   

How to View Your Submitted Challenges

1. Select your name/avatar in the upper right corner, next to the menu button, to open your profile.
2. Select Challenges from the menu below your profile header to view all of your submitted Challenges.

3. View the Status of each submitted Challenge on the right side of the table.