Running a competition is one of the most effective ways to increase engagement and build learning habits in your organization.
As a Team Admin, you can use Earn XP Assignments together with the Leaderboard to create a simple, motivating challenge.
This guide walks you through planning, launching, and tracking a successful competition.
Why run a competition?
A well-run challenge helps learners:
- Get started quickly
- Build momentum early
- Stay motivated through visible progress
- Reach their “aha” moment with DataCamp
Competitions also help overcome hesitation about learning new skills by providing:
- A clear goal
- A defined timeframe
- Recognition for effort
Step 1: Define your goal
Before creating the assignment, decide what success looks like.
Examples:
- First learner to complete a course
- Most XP earned in 30 days
- First team to reach 5,000 XP collectively
Keep the goal:
- Simple
- Time-bound
- Aligned with your business objectives
Tip: Competitions work best when they focus on one clear outcome.
Step 2: Create an Earn XP Assignment
Earn XP Assignments track XP earned during a specific time period.
To create one:
- Go to your Group Hub
- Select Assignments
- Click Create assignment
- Choose Earn XP
- Set:
- XP target
- Start and end date
- Participants (individuals, whole group, or specific teams)
- Click Create Assignment
All XP earned during the assignment period counts toward the goal.
Step 3: Use the Leaderboard to track progress
The Leaderboard ranks learners based on XP, the number of courses, or the number of chapters completed during a selected time range.
To access it:
- Go to your Group Hub
- Click Leaderboard
- Select the relevant date range (30, 90, 365 days)
You can:
- Compare individuals
- Compare teams
- Identify top performers
- Monitor progress throughout the competition
The Leaderboard updates automatically as learners earn XP.
Step 4: Pick a prize
Rewards increase motivation.
Ideas include:
- Gift cards
- Team lunch or dinner
- Extra professional development budget
- Public recognition at an all-hands meeting
- A “DataCamp Champion” certificate
Recognition can be just as powerful as material rewards.
Step 5: Promote the competition
Visibility drives participation.
Announce the competition through:
- Slack or Microsoft Teams
- Team meetings
- Company all-hands
- Internal newsletters
Clearly communicate:
- 🎯 The goal
- 📅 The timeline
- 🏆 The prize
- 📊 How progress will be tracked
You can find more templates and examples in our Competitions guide here.
Ask managers or team leads to encourage participation. Peer support increases engagement.
Step 6: Share progress updates
Keep momentum high by sharing regular updates.
Best practices:
- Share weekly Leaderboard snapshots
- Celebrate progress — not just the top rank
- Highlight meaningful improvement
- Remind participants of the deadline
Consistent communication keeps the competition top-of-mind.
After the competition ends
Close the loop properly:
- Announce winners publicly
- Recognize effort and improvement
- Share final Leaderboard results
- Ask participants for feedback
You can use feedback to improve future challenges and strengthen your learning culture.
Competition format ideas
🏆 Individual challenge
Rank all learners by XP earned.
👥 Team competition
Compare total or average XP earned per team.
🎯 Target-based challenge
Reward everyone who reaches a defined XP milestone.
🚀 Fast-start challenge
Reward the first learner or team to complete a specific milestone.
Best practices for success
- Keep the competition 30-90 days
- Set a realistic goal
- Align with business priorities (e.g., SQL month, AI upskilling)
- Recognize effort, not just winners
- Keep communication consistent
Frequently asked questions
Can learners see the Leaderboard?
Yes. Learners can view their leaderboard on the DataCamp Home page.