?? Learn how to play the *worst* game of ‘White Elephant’
But fear not! Add some variety to your gift-giving from a leading graphic design agency. And learn how to give (and receive) feedback with our template of the week!
Welcome to The Manual Weekly – LI Edition, the can’t-miss newsletter for business leaders. You’ll find snackable bits of news highlighting emerging trends, actionable resources, and proven best practices that can help take your business to the next level.
This week’s must-reads:
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.
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. ??
?Pro tip: Don’t miss their holiday offer — and treat your team to unlimited creativity this season. ?
Don’t miss out! Grab our premium package before costs 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:
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!
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.