<p>Welcome to Twist Academy!</p>
<p>The Twist Academy consists of a series of <em>short</em> lessons which will help you get the most out of your Twist experience. New users will receive these lessons via email, but we've also collected them on this page for your convenience.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<h2>Welcome to Twist</h2>
<p>But first, here's a hearty welcome from our Founder and CEO, Amir 👋</p>
<p>Since 2011, he's been at the helm of our fully remote, multi-product company (we also build Todoist, one of the world's most popular productivity apps). </p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-4piSF_4_sg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>Now, let's get to work... </p>
<p>Start by completing your Twist profile in <strong>Settings </strong>&gt;<strong> Account</strong>. And don't forget to upload that <em>gorgeous, gorgeous</em> (and circle-fitting) profile pic 📸</p>
<div class="box-tip">Get the most out of Twist by <a href="https://twist.com/a/1585/settings/team/members/invite?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_weekends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inviting your teammates</a>!</div>
<h2>Twist Academy</h2>
<p>Let the lessons begin!</p>
<p>By the end of Twist Academy, you can rest easy knowing you’ve learned <em>alllllll</em> the ways to use Twist to gain the benefits of a more organized, collaborative, and calmer way of working! I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling better already. 😌</p>
<div data-accordion="">
<h4>Threads 101</h4>
<p>In this lesson, learn <a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/what-are-threads?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_threads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what a thread is</a>. That’s it. That’s the lesson. This is how important threads are to your experience with Twist, and it’s what sets us apart from other tools you may have considered.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Q29kcmj9mI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<h4>Channels 101</h4>
<p>In this lesson, learn:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/what-are-channels?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_channels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What a channel is</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/public-and-private-channels?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_channels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The difference between private and public channels</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/how-to-use-the-general-channel-and-general-messaging?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_channels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to use the general channel</a></li>
</ul>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mN3Rt3DKFd4" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<h4>Recipients 101</h4>
<p>In this lesson, learn:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/notify-team-members-or-groups?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_recipients#how-notifying-works" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Who is notified when</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/notify-team-members-or-groups?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_recipients#notify-specific-team-members-or-groups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to notify specific teammates or groups</a></li>
</ul>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eceQpxrNIjw" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<h4>Notifications 101</h4>
<p>In this lesson, learn:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/change-your-notifications-settings?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_notifications" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The types of notifications you can choose to receive (or not)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/how-to-use-twist-to-do-deep-work?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_notifications" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When to enable Do Not Disturb mode to snooze notifications</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/time-off-settings?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_notifications" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to use the Time Off feature</a></li>
</ul>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y7wF4MPVNFo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<h4>Inbox 101</h4>
<p>In this lesson, learn:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/what-is-the-inbox?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_inbox" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How the inbox works</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/twist-vs-email-the-more-organized-way-to-work?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_inbox" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Why Twist has replaced internal email at hundreds of companies and counting</a> (and how your company can be next!)</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UCwBMxFYZgc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<h4>Messages 101</h4>
<p>In this lesson, learn:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/what-are-messages?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_messages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What messages are</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/when-to-use-threads-vs-messages?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_messages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When to use messages vs. threads</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/add-or-remove-someone-from-a-group-message?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_messages#instructions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to add or remove someone from a group message</a></li>
</ul>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BzU8N3Oi1Ao" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<h4>Async 101</h4>
<p>You may have noticed that we like to use the word “asynchronous” (or "async" for short). You may also be wondering, “WTF does asynchronous mean?” If so, you’re not alone.</p>
<p>At Doist, asynchronous communication is <em>essential</em> to our success (and our sanity!). In fact, our Founder and CEO Amir wrote all about it.</p>
<div class="box-tip">Click <a href="https://async.twist.com/asynchronous-communication/?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_async_intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to learn more about asynchronous communication.</div>
<p>The disorganized way people tend to work — constantly interrupted by emails, chat pings, and back-to-back meetings — isn’t working. If your team is burned out by a barrage of real-time, all-the-time communication, it’s time to try async. </p>
<p><a href="https://blog.doist.com/async-first/?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_async_intro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here’s our top-ranked, step-by-step guide</a> on how to move your team towards asynchronous communication. 🚂</p>
</div>
<h3>You did it!</h3>
<p>If you've gone through each lesson above, you've completed the Twist Academy. 👏</p>
<p>We hope the lessons made you even <em>more</em> excited to use Twist with your team, and hey, maybe you even learned a thing or two along the way! 😉</p>
<p>While this marks the end of Twist Academy, it <em>doesn’t</em> mark the end of our support for you.</p>
<p>If you need anything at all going forward, just visit the <a href="https://twist.com/help?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_async_outro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twist Help Center</a> (or <a href="https://twist.com/help/contact?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_async_outro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact our Customer Experience team</a> if you still can’t find what you’re looking for)!</p>
<h2>Some Twist-y tips!</h2>
<p>Still want to learn some more? 🤓 Here are some tips for how to make the most out of Twist!</p>
<div data-accordion="">
<h4>Working async, together</h4>
<p>Working async does <em>NOT</em> mean working alone. </p>
<p>Contrary to the naysayers, a healthy, thriving team culture <em>is</em> possible in an async work environment. And with the right amount of intentionality and effort, you can craft a culture that thrives way more than any in-office team.</p>
<p>Here’s a simple thing that we do at Doist:</p>
<p>Every Monday, a thread is automatically posted in our <a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/how-to-use-the-general-channel-and-general-messaging?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_weekends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">general channel</a> asking people to share what they did that weekend (and photos if they have them).</p>
<p><img src="https://get.twist.help/hc/article_attachments/6498172483100" alt="What did you do this weekend thread" width="808" height="404"></p>
<p>By automating its posting, we don’t have to rely on any one person or group of people to remember to start the conversation. We can consistently replicate those “watercooler” moments and keep folks engaged with each other – beyond their day-to-day work.</p>
<p>Try it for yourself. <a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/use-scheduled-threads-with-twist?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_weekends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Set up an automated weekend check-in thread</a> for your team and begin building a thriving (but still async!) workplace culture.</p>
<div class="box-tip">You may enjoy our <a href="https://blog.doist.com/humanizing-async-work/?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_weekends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guide to Building Human Connections in an Async Workplace</a>, written by our Head of Remote. 🤗</div>
<h4>Swap meetings with <em>snippets</em>
</h4>
<p>Here’s a simple thing we do at Doist to reduce the number of hours wasted in meetings: it’s called <em>snippets</em>.</p>
<p>Each week, every team posts updates in a snippets thread — even our CXOs.</p>
<p><img src="https://get.twist.help/hc/article_attachments/6498228484124" alt="Snippets thread" width="1008" height="866"></p>
<p>The snippets are structured around company values and are where we post our top-level priorities for the month, what we did last week, and what we’re focusing on for the week ahead.</p>
<p>Since the thread is automatically posted each week, we don’t have to rely on any one person or group of people to hold us accountable. The whole team can see – you’ve either posted your snippets or you haven’t.</p>
<p>Curious to test out the snippets method for your own team? Start small! See if there’s one recurring check-in meeting that you can trial as an async check-in thread instead.</p>
<div class="box-tip">Click <a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/use-scheduled-threads-with-twist?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_operations_checkin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to learn how to set up a recurring snippets thread.</div>
<p>It might not feel like a lot, but before you know it you’ll be saving hours that you previously wasted in meetings.</p>
<p>Think most meetings suck? We do, too. <a href="https://async.twist.com/flipped-meeting-model/?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_operations_checkin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about the flipped meeting model</a> and learn how to have fewer, higher quality meetings.</p>
<h4>Connect with your teammates</h4>
<p>Here’s one simple tip that we use at Doist to keep people engaged with each other asynchronously — beyond our day to day work:</p>
<p>Every month, a thread is automatically posted in our <a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/how-to-use-the-general-channel-and-general-messaging?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_bookclub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">general channel</a> asking people to share what they’re reading (or going to read). You could call it an async <em>book club</em> of sorts.</p>
<p><img src="https://get.twist.help/hc/article_attachments/6498139924636" alt="Book club thread" width="1008" height="768"></p>
<p>Sometimes Doisters share actual books they’ve read, but other times they may just share a short article. The important part isn’t actually what they’re reading, although the knowledge exchange and learning is an added bonus.</p>
<p>The most important part is the simple act of engaging with each other asynchronously. All these little efforts — including recurring “What are you reading?” threads — add up.</p>
<p>A healthy, thriving async workplace doesn’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen on its own. So start building yours today and <a href="https://twist.com/help/articles/use-scheduled-threads-with-twist?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_bookclub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set up a recurring "book club" thread for your own team</a>.</p>
</div>
<div class="box-tip">Want to give your team that async advantage? <a href="https://async.twist.com/?utm_source=twist&amp;utm_medium=helpcenter&amp;utm_campaign=onboarding_academy_tip_culture_bookclub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Join our newsletter community</a> of 6,000+ people like you who believe the future of work is async.</div>

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