Year-End Predictions
A year-end predictions contest where people pick outcomes for company milestones, industry moves, and office trivia. The organizer authors each prediction event, locks picks at year-end, and reveals results as they happen.
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Overview
Year-End Predictions is a seasonal contest template for running an individual forecast game around the year ahead. The organizer authors each prediction event, entrants make their picks before the lock date, and the contest resolves as real-world outcomes become known over the next few months.
Use this template when you want a low-friction, bragging-rights-only activity that gives people a reason to pay attention to company plans, industry news, or fun office questions. It works well for December planning, January kickoff, and any period where you can define a set of clear, verifiable outcomes. Because the structure is individual and the goal type is highest_score, it is best for straightforward prediction accuracy rather than cooperative participation or team-based scoring.
Do not use this template for open-ended opinion polls, vague culture questions, or metrics that never resolve. It is also a poor fit for anything that needs per-capita fairness, most-improved handicapping, or ongoing leaderboard behavior. The strongest version keeps the number of prediction events manageable, uses outcomes that can be checked against a source of truth, and makes the lock date obvious so entrants know when picks stop changing. If a prediction cannot be verified cleanly, it should be rewritten before launch.
Standards & compliance context
- This template is designed for bragging rights only, which helps avoid prize or raffle mechanics that can create policy or legal complications.
- Because the contest is individual and score-based, it should not be used to publicly shame low performers or create punitive rankings.
- Prediction events should be based on verifiable business or public outcomes, not private employee data or sensitive personal information.
- If the contest touches company milestones, make sure the organizer has permission to publish the underlying results and timing.
General regulatory context for orientation only — verify current requirements with counsel or the relevant agency before relying on this template for compliance.
How to use this template
- Create a short list of prediction events with outcomes that can be verified later, such as company milestones, product launches, or industry headlines.
- Set the lock date for year-end and tell entrants exactly when predictions stop accepting changes.
- Invite individuals to submit their picks and make sure each prediction has a single clear outcome definition.
- Track results as the year unfolds and mark each event correct or incorrect using the same rule for every entrant.
- Publish the standings after each reveal and close the contest with a final winner based on highest score.
- Share a recap of the winning picks, close calls, and memorable misses so the contest ends cleanly.
Best practices
- Write prediction events so each one has a single verifiable outcome, not a subjective interpretation.
- Keep the contest to a manageable number of events so entrants can follow it without losing interest.
- Lock entries before the first outcome becomes public to avoid retroactive guessing.
- Use a mix of serious and lighthearted prompts so the contest feels relevant without becoming overly formal.
- Publish the scoring rules up front and apply them consistently to every entrant.
- Choose outcomes that naturally resolve within the 120-day window so the contest does not drag on.
- Avoid ranking people on vague confidence or commentary; score only the prediction result itself.
What this template typically catches
Issues teams running this template most often surface in practice:
Common use cases
Frequently asked questions
What does this template include?
It includes a prediction contest structure with individual entrants, organizer-authored prediction events, and a highest_score format. The template is set up for year-end locking, then result reveals as the underlying events resolve over the following months. It is designed for bragging rights rather than points-based rewards or cash prizes.
When should we run a Year-End Predictions contest?
This template fits December and January planning cycles, when people are already thinking about the year ahead. The 120-day duration gives enough time for outcomes to unfold without turning the contest into a permanent leaderboard. It works best when the predictions are tied to events that can realistically resolve within the contest window.
Who should run it?
A program owner, HR partner, internal comms lead, or team coordinator can run it as long as they can author the prediction events and publish results. The organizer should also define the lock date and keep the scoring rules simple. Because this is a prediction contest, the organizer is responsible for entering the actual outcomes.
How is this different from a leaderboard?
A leaderboard is open-ended and keeps running, while this template is a time-boxed contest with a clear start, lock, and finish. That matters because contests create a clean season and a final winner, which is easier to understand and easier to promote. It also avoids the fatigue that comes from always-on ranking.
Can we customize the prediction topics?
Yes. You can tailor the prediction events to company milestones, product launches, hiring targets, industry headlines, sports outcomes, or fun office questions. The best version uses a mix of serious and lighthearted prompts so the contest feels relevant without becoming too hard to follow.
What should we avoid when setting up the predictions?
Avoid vague prompts that cannot be verified, like 'Will the team feel more aligned this year?' Each prediction should have a clear outcome that can be checked against a source of truth. Also avoid too many events, because a crowded contest makes it harder for entrants to stay engaged and for the organizer to score accurately.
How do we score the contest fairly?
Use a clear highest_score format and score only whether each prediction was correct. Keep the rules the same for everyone, and publish the lock date before entries close. If you want to make it more cooperative, you can add team-based variants in a separate template, but this one is set up for individual play.
Can this connect to other tools or workflows?
Yes, the contest can be paired with calendar reminders, internal newsletters, or a results tracker so people know when predictions lock and when outcomes are revealed. Many organizers also use it alongside company planning docs or annual kickoff materials. The key is to keep the prediction events and final results easy to reference in one place.
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