🦈 Learn to think and win like a shark (from *the* shark)

This week’s must-reads:

• Mastering the shark mentality to boost your results.
• Do this to get eye rolls from your team during training time.
• How AI is making us smarter (not how you think).
• And a process to give your team an edge during performance evaluations.

A SHARK'S TALE

How to think and win like a shark w/ Daymond John

If you're stuck in a loop of excuses and not making real progress, here's your wake-up call. Daymond John, the visionary behind FUBU and a Shark Tank icon, sat down with us on Inside the Process to break down what it really takes to build a booming business. As he puts it, "The same energy to think big is the same energy to think small."

Here are the keys to thriving in deep waters:

• Visualize and set goals. "Life is all about visualization." Engage all of your senses to reinforce your commitment. Imagine where you want to go. How does it feel? Smell? Taste?
• Lead by example. People want to be led by someone with an immense drive and desire to be great. "Your work ethic gets people to follow you."
  
• Eliminate toxic connections. "Cutting toxic people out of your life makes room for those who deserve your love." Removing yourself from negativity is one of the fastest ways to gain back some energy and clarity in your life.

🎧 Here’s how to think and win like a shark.

Playbook 2024 brought the best in business, and we’re rolling out the purple carpet again for 2025. If you're serious about leveling up your leadership, join the Playbook 2025 waitlist now to secure an exclusive discount.

TRAINUAL TIPS & TRICKS

Here’s how to make your team hate doing training online

Okay, obviously, we don’t actually want that.

But imagine your team going through your training and feeling like they’d rather watch paint dry. Hardly a recipe for becoming a “Best Place to Work.” When training is boring, there’s more to worry about than eye-rolls and groans — it leads to real problems, like:

• Lack of retention. If they’re not engaged, they won’t remember it. And it takes time to look it back up. (Not as much time for the ones who ask Trainual a question and get an answer in seconds, of course … but still.)
• Mistakes. Missed details equal avoidable errors, which can lead to extra costs for your company. Especially where safety and compliance are concerned.
• New hires tuning out, then peacing out. (We kid… kinda.) But the fact of the matter is companies with lackluster onboarding see turnover spike faster than interest flatlines during a 60-slide PowerPoint presentation.

Here’s how to fix it:

Getting your training into Trainual is a great first step. But the real game-changer? Go back through it and find places to make it shine. Try this:

• 🎥 Swap long paragraphs for short, engaging videos. Show, don’t just tell. (Spoiler alert: You might just be able to drag and drop videos right into Trainual super soon! 👀)
• 📸 Add visuals and GIFs. A picture is worth a thousand words — especially when it makes a concept click instantly.
• 🗺️ Build a flowchart. Telling a story? Turn your step-by-step flow into an interactive visual map with clickable elements. (And take it to the next level with photos and GIFs!)

There are tons of ways to crank your training up a notch. But this we know for sure: Your team doesn’t need more blah blah blah. They need training that sticks. Time to level it up.

👉 Watch Trainual’s very own Shawn Jensen tackle boring training! (NGL it was touch and go for a moment there.)

WE'RE GETTING SMARTER

The secret to using AI without losing your brand magic

“The Terminator,” “RoboCop,” and “I, Robot” all imagined a future where AI runs the show. And while we’re all for embracing AI (as long as the whole uprising thing stays in the movies), there’s one thing to watch out for: Over-relying on AI can make teams less creative and critical in their thinking.

But here’s the secret: AI doesn’t replace smart thinking — it enhances it. The key is knowing how to strike the right balance.

Here’s how to make AI work with your team, not for them:

• Use AI for the right work: When used intentionally, AI is a huge time saver. Automate tasks that don't require creativity — like turning training content into quizzes with our AI-powered test feature. 🤖
• Boost creative thinking naturally: Studies show that walking increases creative output by 60%. Encourage a walk-and-talk session before diving into AI-generated solutions if your team needs fresh ideas.
• Think first, AI second: AI is your Robin, not Batman. Encourage your team to brainstorm first, then use AI to refine and enhance their ideas. Relying on AI too soon can lead to cookie-cutter results. After all, if everyone gives similar input to AI, their work will blend in instead of standing out.

AI isn’t making us dumber — it’s making us sharper when used strategically. Ready to build smarter training and processes with the right balance of human + AI? We’ve got the tools to help.

STARTER PACK

Template of the week: Facilitating Performance Evaluation

Ever feel like the feedback groundhog — showing up once a year, dropping a review, and disappearing until next time? If that’s the case, your team probably feels the same way. Worse, they'll be frustrated if your feedback isn’t accurate or actionable. You might be lucky to have them working for just six more weeks.
Here's the strategy to step up your feedback game (your team will thank you):

• 🤓 Fact: 65% of your team wants more feedback.
• ✅ Action: Think about places to give more feedback! Maybe it's during a 15-minute coffee chat or an extra few minutes after your weekly check-in.
  
• 🤓 Fact: 76% of high-performing women receive negative feedback compared to 2% of high-performing men (huh?!).
• ✅ Action: Keep a rolling document of feedback and update it in real-time. Work on your unconscious biases (cough, cough, premium courses).
  
• 🤓 Fact: 40% of top performers will consider leaving if they only receive vague, unactionable criticism.
• ✅ Action: When you give criticism, also come up with a clear next step. If your words aren't actionable, they aren't helpful.

👉 Performance reviews shouldn’t be a “checkbox” exercise. They fuel growth, keep top talent engaged, and strengthen your team when done right. Check out our Facilitating Performance Evaluations Process Template to make performance discussions a natural, year-round habit.

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