🐘 Learn how to play the *worst* game of ‘White Elephant’

Playbook 2024 brought the heat (and the hoops)! From killer actionable insights to connecting with incredible people on a real WNBA court — we made some amazing memories together. And just like those of you who joined us, we're feeling energized for 2025! Speaking of which, wanna be the first to know when Playbook 2025 tickets go on sale (and lock in our best price)? Join the waitlist.

This week’s must-reads:‍

• How to ignite a culture of productive feedback.
• Unwrap the fun with Design Pickle's corky gift guide.
• Last chance alert: Power up your Trainual account before prices go up.
• And how to energize your team for 2025 with an end-of-year review.

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STARTER PACK

Template of the week: Feedback Training Process

Let’s be honest: Feedback can be awkward and uncomfortable. Have you ever tried telling your mom you don’t like her casserole? (Good luck with that!). But when done well, feedback creates endless opportunities for growth and clarity within your team.

Trainual's high-performance culture was built on the idea that feedback shapes growth. So much so that we've gathered some data to highlight just how vital proper feedback can be — welcome to fact or myth!

Bad feedback means less retention.

People who receive low-quality feedback are 63% more likely to leave their organizations compared to their counterparts. Fact or myth?
Fact. Talk about a gut check.‍

Employees expect feedback all at one.

More than half the workforce indicates they would prefer receiving less feedback than they currently get. Fact or myth?

Myth. Employees crave continuous feedback!‍

Feedback is more about substance than delivery.

A whopping 80% of people who have received “meaningful” feedback in the past week report feeling less engaged! Fact or myth?

Myth. Delivery often holds more weight than the content itself.

Feeling the importance of your next feedback convo? The Feedback Training Process template has the potential to foster healthy and productive dialogue within your company. Higher retention, satisfaction, and productivity are one click away!

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

A PICKLE FOR CHRISTMAS?

For those last-minute gifts: Design Pickle's peak gift guide

Feeling the holiday crunch? No stress — our friends at Design Pickle just dropped their Holiday Gift Guide, and it’s packed with quirky, unexpected finds for everyone on your list (even the ones who have everything).

This isn’t your average gift guide. Think pickles, squirrel puppets, and more delightfully random treasures! Whether you're shopping for the practical, the whimsical, or just need a good laugh while scrolling, Design Pickle has curated something for everyone.

And here’s the icing on the fruitcake: Design Pickle isn’t just making holiday shopping a breeze — they’re making your work life easier, too. If you’re in the market for an outsourced professional graphic design team at a flat monthly rate, sign up for Design Pickle, and you could receive up to a $7,000 Amazon gift card. That’s a whole lot of holiday cheer for gifting and getting your creative projects done without the stress.

Give yourself the gift of time — let Design Pickle handle the designs, while you handle the shopping. 🎁

👉 Check out the gift guide now!

Pro tip: Don’t miss their holiday offer — and treat your team to unlimited creativity this season. ✨

TRAINUAL TIPS & TRICKS

Last chance! Get our premium package before prices rise.

Hottest tip of the year comin’ at ya: If you’ve been on the fence about getting the growing Trainual+ feature suite, take the leap and grab it while it’s hot before prices go up in 2025! Right now, it starts at $49/mo. — probably less than your weekly coffee habit if we’re being honest. 👀

But do I need Trainual+?

All Trainual plans come with everything you need to grow and scale. But Trainual+ is for you if you’re looking to power up your account — taking it from great to *chef’s kiss.  

It’s perfect for teams with:

• Regular onboarding cohorts. If you’ve got a steady stream of new hires, you’ll want to maximize productivity with training paths. (Ta-ta, information overload.)
• Employees who speak other languages. Train in other languages like Spanish, French, German, and more! Oui oui.
• Frequently shifting responsibilities. Use the Delegation Planner™ as your visual way to manage who does what like a pro as you grow and change.
• Big accountability goals. Ensure your team takes a moment to re-read, confirm, and acknowledge their understanding of all content with unlimited e-signature collection. Digital receipts included.
• A handful of people documenting. Too many cooks in the kitchen? Not here. That’s a recipe for success when it comes to keeping content fresh, especially when you’ve got unlimited version history storage. With the confidence you can always view and restore past content, giving your team more autonomy to pitch in is a no-brainer.
• Custom video training. Securely upload and store your own training videos right in Trainual with hosted videos — plus auto-generated transcriptions, required watch settings, and more. Coming soon!

👉 Watch a quick tour of Trainual+.

MAYBE NEXT YEAAR

No surprises here: end-of-year reviews that don't suck!

It’s that time of year again! Gingerbread houses, cookies by the fire, and — you guessed it — end-of-year reviews. While this season is prime for reflection, managers who don’t know how to give feedback are playing the worst white elephant game ever with their employees!

Believe it or not, your team members don’t need the latest Stanley cup — they’re craving an intentional discussion about their growth and achievements!

Here are four essential tips for effective feedback conversations that managers might overlook:

Tip #1: Start positive!

Kick off your meeting with some good vibes! Celebrate the wins from the past year and highlight what went well. Encourage your team to keep a record of their accomplishments throughout the year to make wins easier to access.

Tip #2: Be specific.

General praise is nice, but specificity makes a bigger impact. Customize your feedback with concrete data or examples linked to specific projects.

❌ “Your leadership skills have improved.”

✅ “Your confidence in managing the [challenge] during the [project] shows that you are really coming into your own as a leader.”

Tip #3: Set new challenges.

As you wrap up the review, look ahead! Together, define new goals that create exciting challenges for your team members. Bonus points if you aim for a mix of personal and professional objectives to foster holistic growth.

Tip #4: Block time for questions.

Encourage open dialogue during this time — it’s a fantastic opportunity to clarify any uncertainties and foster transparency. 5-10 minutes for questions is all it takes!