2025 has been a strange year economically. Global growth is slow, and the Dollar Index dropped approximately 10% in the first six months of the year – the biggest decline since 1973. About 744,000 people were laid off during this timeframe. Global economic growth is sluggish and fragile due to geopolitical tensions, tariffs and policy noise which continue to impact the economy.
During these uncertain times, companies are being asked to hit growth targets with shrinking budgets and leaner staff. Whether due to budget cuts, hiring freezes or layoffs, “doing more with less” has shifted to a business necessity.
But fewer people doesn’t have to mean lower performance. The secret to outperforming competitors lies in empowering lean teams through smart, scalable training tactics. And that starts with video-based microlearning.
Lean Teams Vs. Small Teams
There’s a critical difference between a lean team and a small team.
Lean teams are intentionally designed for efficiency, focus and impact. They are proactive, empowered and structured to do more with less. In contrast, small teams (as opposed to smaller teams) are often the result of reactive decisions – typically driven by external pressures such as layoffs. These teams may lack clarity, suffer from reduced morale and feel like collateral damage who are required to do more with less, rather than lean team contributors to a larger purpose.
When organizations reduce headcount, the outcome can either be a purposeful, high-performing lean team or a disrupted, under-resourced small team. The difference lies in design, intent and communication. Done right, lean teams can achieve more than their size suggests. Done poorly, small teams struggle to maintain productivity and engagement.
For example, high-growth startups are lean teams. The size is smaller, people wear multiple hats, but they are purpose-driven, productive and a part of a strong work culture.
Lean Teams Aren’t a Liability – They’re an Opportunity
Any small team that is not unified faces a unique challenge: maintaining productivity morale, performance, and compliance with a reduced headcount and fewer resources. But these streamlined teams also present a unique opportunity. With the right training strategies, lean teams can be more cost-efficient than ever before.
According to Deloitte, 92% of companies that invest in learning cultures are more likely to innovate, and 46% are more likely to be first to market. But it’s not just about long-term innovation, it’s also about immediate performance. Highly engaged employees are 23% more profitable, and organizations with strong training programs reduce turnover by as much as 59%.
Traditional Training is Too Slow
Conventional training methods – especially in-person sessions or lengthy LMS modules – don’t fit the realities of lean teams. These groups often carry extra responsibilities and don’t have the luxury of stepping away for hours of training.
Traditional learning is also too expensive. The average company spends $1,071 per employee on training annually, while the average LMS costs up to $1,700 per user per year. And yet, 88% of employees report applying little to none of what they learn in these programs.
Time, money and bandwidth are limited. That’s why forward-thinking organizations are turning to video-based microlearning: short, daily lessons delivered in the flow of work. It’s the training equivalent of the Swiss Army Knife: efficient, practical and versatile – and it builds the habit of learning among employees.
The Swiss Army Knife of Training
The human brain forgets up to 70% of new information within 24 hours and up to 90% within a week. This “forgetting curve” makes long, one-time training sessions highly ineffective. Microlearning counters this by delivering consistent, digestible content that sticks.
Video-based microlearning takes this even further by tapping into visual learning. Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text, and video content boosts memory retention by up to 80%. That’s why Tyfoom users retain an industry-leading 96% of content after 30 days.
For lean teams, this kind of high-impact learning is absolutely critical. Daily two-minute videos allow employees to keep learning without slowing down. And because content is mobile-first, employees can complete training from any location.
Boosting Engagement to Avoid Burnout
Smaller teams are often asked to take on more, which increases the risk of burnout and disengagement. This can become a vicious cycle as disengaged employees are 34% less productive and 69% more likely to leave their job.
Video-based microlearning does more than close skill gaps – it boosts morale. Tyfoom’s platform uses gamification to drive engagement, offering leaderboards, badges and performance tracking that creates daily wins for employees. These small motivators build momentum and reinforce habits. Companies with highly engaged employees have seen as much as 41% reductions in absenteeism and sharp drops in turnover.
For lean teams, every retained employee matters because efficiency is key. Keeping morale high through meaningful, engaging learning keeps your core team energized and focused.
Faster Onboarding, Smarter Upskilling
When teams are lean, there’s no room for onboarding delays or skill mismatches. New hires need to contribute quickly, and existing employees often must take on new roles or learn new systems. But traditional onboarding is notoriously inefficient.
Video-based microlearning shortens the ramp-up time by automating onboarding checklists, delivering role-specific training and providing on-demand access to knowledge libraries.
Instead of overwhelming new hires with manuals or PowerPoints, companies can offer structured, high-retention learning from day one. This helps smaller teams integrate new members quickly while avoiding costly rework or compliance mistakes.
Data-Driven Training Decisions
In lean environments, every training investment must show ROI. Video-based microlearning platforms provide real-time analytics so managers can monitor engagement, training completion and performance trends at a glance.
This data enables targeted coaching and smarter resource allocation. High-performers can be recognized and developed into leaders. Disengaged team members can be spotted early and supported before they become a liability. At a time when one disengaged employee can cost a company over $20,000 a year in lost productivity, these insights are essential.
Even more importantly, this visibility helps lean teams prioritize where to focus training resources for the biggest return. No wasted time. No wasted budget.
Simplifying Communication for Speed and Clarity
Smaller teams can’t afford to lose time to missed messages, inbox clutter or redundant updates. Yet poor communication costs U.S. businesses an estimated $1.2 trillion annually.
Video-based microlearning apps help streamline communication by combining training and updates into one centralized platform. Managers can send messages, assign lessons and track completion without switching tools or chasing down confirmations.
A Training Solution That Scales With You
Lean teams don’t stay lean forever. As businesses recover or expand, scalable training becomes a major asset. Tyfoom’s microlearning platform grows with you – whether you have 5 employees or 50,000.
When Sunroc Construction & Materials wanted to scale training across multiple locations, they used Tyfoom to deliver consistent safety and leadership content across their entire workforce. The result? Higher engagement, fewer incidents and a much stronger return on training investment.
Lean Teams Need Lean Learning
You don’t need a big budget or a large training department – lean teams just need the right tools. Video-based microlearning delivers high-impact, low-cost training that improves performance, boosts engagement and helps your business adapt in real time.
At Tyfoom, we believe that smaller teams aren’t a disadvantage – they’re an opportunity to train smarter, move faster and lead stronger. With daily video-based microlearning, you get results.
Learn how to turn your small team into a high-performance lean team. Schedule a meeting to speak with a Tyfoom training consultant today.