122: Chris Ronzio from Trainual on Transforming Training, New Employee Onboarding and Processes for Scalable Success

Ten Golden Rules Internet Marketing for Law Firms Podcast

Do you want to scale your business without being tied to every detail? Our guest today Chris Ronzio, the founder of Trainual, shares the secrets behind creating a streamlined, scalable business through effective systems and SOPs. Chris shared his journey from running a sports video production company to creating Trainual, a game-changing software that simplifies and centralizes standard operating procedures and employee onboarding.

We explored how proper systems like Trainual can streamline processes, onboard employees seamlessly, and scale businesses effectively—especially for law firms. Chris also discussed the importance of building a "process culture" to ensure consistent updates and foster innovation. With practical advice for optimizing processes like client intake and employee orientation, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help your business run like a well-oiled machine.

Key Topics

• 02:09 The widespread use of Trainual and its integration with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and onboarding processes.
• 02:45 His journey and the story behind Trainual.
• 03:21 The importance of good training and onboarding in scaling his video production company.
• 03:45 The initial challenges of using Google Docs and Dropbox folders for business manuals and the need for a dedicated tool.
• 03:59 The need for a dedicated tool for business operating manuals led to the creation of Trainual, which started as a consulting tool and later became a software business.
• 05:08 Chris mentions writing a book, "The Business Playbook," to provide a framework for creating comprehensive operating manuals.
• 05:40 The benefits of having documented processes for onboarding new employees and training them effectively.
• 08:10 The need for businesses to create best practices, celebrate innovation, and regularly update their systems.
• 09:21 The importance of having the right tools and building a process culture into the DNA of the business.
• 10:15 Outlines the four pieces of the playbook methodology: business profile, people, policies, and processes.
• 10:42 The importance of understanding the business's culture, key milestones, and ideal customer.
• 11:15 The need to document roles, responsibilities, and processes, starting with administrative and sales processes.
• 13:15 He suggests using sent emails and calendar activities to identify responsibilities.
• 14:49 The importance of a structured orientation for new employees, especially in a remote setting.
• 15:50 Improving the intake process in law firms.
• 16:16 Documenting processes that are done frequently or by multiple people to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• 17:29 Using flowcharts to outline the intake process and involving all stakeholders in the documentation.
• 18:21 Recording steps with screen recordings or document templates to ensure clarity.
• 19:37 The importance of assigning and tracking training completion to ensure new employees are up to speed.
• 21:17 Approach to onboarding, including pre-offer training and intake forms to gather preferences and working styles.
• 22:23 A structured orientation program with live presentations, downtime for asynchronous training, and a buddy system for support.
• 26:35 Joined Dan Martell’s SAS Academy early on, learned the power of delegation through his 'Buyback Your Time' concept, and witnessed his business and book thrive worldwide.
• 30:45 Use playbooks both macro and micro: a full operations manual for the business and detailed SOPs for clear ownership, frequency, and efficiency.
• 32:35 Sharing an example of an account manager who pre-writes meeting notes, creating an SOP for the process.
• 36:25 Start training during the interview process, personalize onboarding with intake forms, and design a structured, engaging first day with a buddy system and tailored resources.
• 38:03 The role of change management in training and the importance of crowdsourcing best practices.
• 39:20 An example of an account manager who created an SOP for pre-writing meeting notes.
• 42:26 Structuring his week and daily routine, including time blocking for workouts and family time.

Resources Mentioned

Books:

• The E-Myth
• The Business Playbook by Chris Ronzio
• Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
• Living Your Best Year Ever by Darren Hardy

Websites:

• Trainual Website

About Chris Ronzio:

Chris Ronzio is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Trainual, a leading software platform that helps businesses document and delegate their processes for scalable growth. After starting his first business at 14, Chris built and sold a national video production company by the age of 25. He then launched Organize Chaos, a consulting agency specializing in business efficiency, which inspired the creation of Trainual. Chris is passionate about empowering business leaders to focus on what they love by streamlining operations. He is also a part-owner of Design Pickle, the world’s top flat-rate graphic design service.

About Jay Berkowitz:

Jay Berkowitz is a digital marketing strategist with decades of experience in the industry. As the CEO of Ten Golden Rules, he has helped countless law firms and businesses harness the power of the internet to achieve remarkable growth and visibility. Jay is also a renowned keynote speaker and author, sharing his expertise at various industry events and publications worldwide.

Connect with Ten Golden Rules

Subscribe to Ten Golden Rules on YouTube

Check out our webinars on TenGoldenRules.com

Connect with Ten Golden Rules on LinkedIn

Follow Ten Golden Rules on Facebook

Connect with Jay Berkowitz on LinkedIn

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcast review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.