↩️ A PIP could turn this around.

This week’s must-reads:

• Noticing a performance dip? Time to act. 
• Inconsistent onboarding = inconsistent results.
• What the smartest teams are watching.
• And forget the office ping pong table. Build this instead.

TURN IT AROUND

Template of the week: PIP Process

Of the 4.3% of employees who land on a performance improvement plan (PIP), only a third will actually turn things around. Why? Too often, it feels like a pre-firing formality instead of what it should be: a real plan for progress.

Here’s how to ensure your PIP actually works:

• 🪞 Mirror check. Have you set clear, documented role expectations? (Think job descriptions, career paths, and performance goals.) If responsibilities and targets are fuzzy, that's on you — not them.
• 📝 Put it in writing. Give them a game plan — whether a training boost or a fresh path, make it something they can grab and run with.
• 💪 Show ‘em you believe. Use 1:1s to call out wins and remind them how they’re making a real impact. Confidence compounds — you set the tone!

👉 Want to turn performance slumps into success stories? Scoop the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) Template to set goals, track progress and help your team crush their work.

Check out our entire template archive of free and customizable policy, process, and role starters. New to Trainual? Get a demo.

READY FOR TAKEOFF

New hire? No problem. Four ways to ace week one

Bringing someone new onto the team is more than just handing over a laptop and login credentials. A thoughtful onboarding experience can make or break how quickly a new hire ramps up, how confident they feel, and how long they stick around.

Here are four points to consider to make onboarding a win every time:

1. 🎤 Onboarding isn’t improv. Build a clear onboarding process with defined roles, training paths, and expectations. 30/60/90-day plans are a cheat code. 
2. ✈️ Set the basics on autopilot. Build an onboarding module (yep, we’ve got you 😉) covering everything from dress code to parking. No more repeating the basics with every new hire!
3. ⬛ Day one ≠ square one. Make sure you're finding the right fit from the start — both for the company and the candidate. A solid match from day one boosts performance and retention.
4. 🔥 Fuel the fire you hired for. You screened for a growth mindset (smart move) — now build on it by giving new hires stretch goals, quick wins, and space to ask all the questions. Mentorship = engagement. 

Onboard with these in mind, and your new hires won’t just win… they practically can’t lose.

TRAINUAL TIPS & TIPS

Your company (and content) glow-up starts here

We're still swooning from Playbook 2024 — and if you missed it, now’s your chance to binge the playbacks. Catch 10+ jam-packed sessions with Trainual execs, real customers, and killer strategies. It’s your all-you-can-learn buffet for scaling smarter.

🎧 Press play if...

• 🧠 You’re craving a content machine. Automate updates and keep your training fresh with these expert tips.
• 💥 You live for “aha!” moments. Discover how top-performing teams are scaling smarter with better processes and training.
• 🔥 You want insider insights from the Trainual execs. Get the secret sauce to drive growth straight from the people who built Trainual.

SYSTEMS OVER VIBES

What we can all learn from Navy SEAL culture

We used to Google everything. These days, AI gets the first word — and it’s rewriting how we think about SEO, ads, and what it takes to actually get found online.

Here are four things that are changing — and what to do about it:

1. 🤖 AI is answering before users click. 👉 Make your content crystal-clear and authoritative — the kind of answer AI wants to quote.
2. 📦 Product ads are now baked into AI results.  👉 Clean up your product feed, double-check attributes, and get your listings ready for interactive search.
3. 🧭 Search results are becoming conversations.  👉 Optimize for questions, not just keywords. Use headings like “What is…” and “How do I…” in your content.
4. 📈 Zero-click searches are rising. 👉 Add value fast — your first 2 lines should deliver the goods, even if they never visit your site.

Bottom line? AI won’t kill search — but it will change who wins. And the winners? They're already updating their playbook. 😉