✍️ How to stop giving ‘meh’ feedback

 This week’s must-reads:

• Why workplace wellness isn't a catchphrase.
• The antidote to disconnected leadership.
• A training non-negotiable. 
• And how winning teams aren’t born — they’re built (and backed by science).

MENTAL MATTERS

Template of the week: Workplace Wellness Toolkit

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so let’s do more than toss around “self-care” affirmations. If you’re serious about building a resilient team, you need real tools, honest insight, and a plan to spot fatigue before it tanks morale (or retention).

Here’s a sneak peek into the toolkit:

• 🕵️‍♀️ Survey questions that spark honesty. Burnout, boundaries, benefits — ask what really matters (like “Do you feel energized at work?”). Remember to keep it anonymous — it creates a safer space for real input.
• 📚 Articles that go deeper than surface-level advice. From stoicism to small wins to setting intentions — we've got real tools, no fluff.
• 📲 Apps therapists actually recommend. Not just feel-good downloads — we're talking recommendations that help you manage stress while staying productive.
• 💃🏻 The Joy Workout. It’s 8 minutes. It’s science-backed. It might be the best thing you do all day. (Hint: Have you moved from your desk today?)

👉 Want to support your team beyond free office snacks and “you good?” chats? Dig into the Workplace Wellness Toolkit — and start building a culture where mental health fuels real productivity. 

Check out our entire template archive here. New to Trainual? Get a demo.

RED PILL

The Harvard matrix to fix your feedback

If your feedback keeps missing the mark, you might be overlooking the real issue. The Standards/Care Matrix — first introduced to Trainual CEO, Chris, in a recent Harvard Business School lecture #soproud— helps you spot your default mode and shows you a better way to lead.‍

Here’s the breakdown (and the fix):

😴 Neglect = Low standards, low care.

• The problem: There’s no support, no push to grow — just autopilot. And not the smooth sailing kind that gets you where you want to be.
• The fix: Schedule regular 1:1s and set clear expectations.

🤐 Loyalty = Low standards, high care.

• The problem: You’re kind, but unclear — and your team’s stuck in the comfort zone.
• The fix: Pair your encouragement with a clear goal and define what “good” looks like.

🤬 Severity = High standards, low care.

• The problem: You push for results, but your team’s running on fear, not trust.
• The fix: Ask more questions. Show you’re in their corner, not just on their case.

😎 Justice = High standards, high care.

• This is the zone. Accountability and empathy. Growth and support.
• Keep it up: Give clear, honest feedback — and make space to listen, too.

Use this matrix to spot the patterns and gain the language you need to course correct.

TRAINUAL TIPS & TIPS

Accessible content isn't optional. This guide's got your back.

👆 Well, that looks familiar.

If you’ve ever squinted at 4-point font or tried to focus during a chaotic layout, you know the struggle is real. Now imagine navigating that daily with low vision, ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning differences.

Accessible content is not a nice-to-have. It’s a need-to-have — because your team deserves content that’s easy to read, navigate, and remember. Not to mention: It means fewer questions for you and more confident, capable people across the board.

I'd love to. But I don't think I know enough about accessibility to pull it off.

Don't worry — you can make your content inclusive without making it more complicated. And our brand-new guide shows you how. It covers:

• 💬 Plain language rules that make your message stick.
• 🖼️ When (and how) to use alt text, captions, and color wisely.
• 🎨 Tips for clean layouts and distraction-free design.
• 🧩 The art of microlearning and modular thinking.
• 🎧 How to optimize for assistive tools like text-to-speech.
• 🧠 Patterns and visuals that boost memory retention.

This sounds like a beast of a project. Anything I can start doing today?

It’s not as heavy as it sounds. Seriously. In fact, here are three quick wins you can tackle right now:

1. Go sans-serif. Use fonts like Arial or Open Sans for max readability. 
2. Use high-contrast colors. Dark text on a light background = instant readability.
3. Caption your videos. Drop auto-generated captions right into your content to make it work for everyone — in seconds.

Psst… you can set the default text font and color for your entire account in Account > Settings.

👉 Want to peep the full guide? Log in to your account and head to Trainual U.

ALL WE DO IS WIN

What sports teams know that companies might not

The best teams don’t just work hard — they work together. Whether it’s the NBA, WNBA or your sales squad, high-performing teams share the same fundamentals: trust, feedback, rhythm, and celebration.

Here’s what winning teams do right:

• 🙌 They celebrate often. Teams that high-five, chest bump, and fist bump a lot? They win more — because frequent recognition builds trust and chemistry. Just ask Steve Nash, Hall of Fame point guard, who gave his teammates props an average 239 times per game. 🤯
• 🧠 They stay mentally in sync. When teams share clear goals and roles, their brains literally sync up. That’s team flow — and it leads to increased information processing.
• 🏀 They build safety, not just skill. Top teams with psychological safety outperformed more “talented” squads. When people know they can take risks — and their team still has their back — they dare to stretch further, think bigger, and make bolder moves.

The best teams don’t just train harder — they connect deeper. Whether it’s trust, clarity, or a good ol’ fist bump, the secret sauce is human.