Matt Heller - Performance Optimist

05/24/2025

Let's talk about staffing!! -

In a recent ACLS, the question of staffing came up… what are you doing to attract staff, keep staff, motivate staff? So let’s talk about it!!

05/12/2025

Northeast Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions

Excited to lead the Spring Leadership Seminar on May 20!

Register: neaapa.com/SLS2025

https://youtu.be/O9zBONYhDy4

Register your team to attend the Spring Leadership Seminar at https://neaapa.com/sls2025Tuesday, May 20 from 9am to 4pm at Canobie Lake ParkMatt Heller from ...

05/09/2025

What's in a name (tag)?

If you have been in the service or hospitality business for a long time, you have likely amassed a series of name tags from various roles and companies. Even if you don't still have them all, you probably remember putting them on and taking them off everyday, and maybe even letting them go through the wash a few times!

I have had the good fortune to have a bunch of name tags over the years, and it was always with a sense of pride that I would wear them. I felt connected to the company, and in fact that I was a representative of the company. It was a weighty, but welcome, responsibility.

In more recent years, I have collected a number of name tags from places that I do not work for as an employee, but I work with them as a partner (pictured). Being thought of as a member of the team to the point where they make me a name tag (when they don't have to) is an honor beyond description.

And putting on those name tags brings all the same feels as wearing name tags for the companies in which I was employed. Pride for one, but also the responsibility that I better know where the bathrooms are if I am going to wear this in guest view.

But the pride one might feel doesn't come from a piece of plastic with a magnet on the back. It's the way the people at that company treat you, it's the reputation of that company in the public's eye and the way you feel when you associate your brand, persona and personality with theirs.

In a recent conversation with the leadership team of a small department (yes, their name tag is in that picture!), we first started talking about some of the challenges they are seeing with their frontline team. Underperforming, call outs, and lack of urgency topped the list. Then, instead of asking how we could fix these problems, I asked each of these team members what kept them coming back to work each day.

The answers included:

"I do this for my family."
"It's this team. We all work together really well."
"I enjoy helping people."
"I like to see that my efforts have an impact."
"I feel respected."

Then it was time to connect the dots.

Can we connect what our team members are doing at work to THEIR personal purpose?
Do we have people that ignite or detract from the team dynamic?
Does the team get to do what they enjoy?
Are we sharing feedback on performance?
Do we listen to, encourage, and value each team member?

The reflective head nods around the table told me we had struck a chord. The answers they sought, that many of us seek, were not going drop out of the sky, they were going to come from inward reflection of their own experiences.

A sense of purpose and value will drive higher performance.
Knowing your impact and working with a great team will inspire you to show up.
Being backed-up and supported by your leaders will ignite a sense of urgency.

And all of THAT, will instill pride in the team that wears your name tag!

Thanks for reading!

Matt

Performanceoptimist.com
[email protected]
407-435-8084

04/28/2025

Are you tired of feeling stuck in the middle AND pulled in a thousand different directions?

Welcome to "middle" management!

Spoiler alert - we're all in the middle of something!

That's why I am super jazzed to present "Thriving in the Middle - A Survival Guide for Middle Managers" on May 7 in Orlando. This in-person workshop is for attractions leaders who want to have greater positive influence over the situations they experience in 360 degrees!

Learn more and register:

Are you stuck, or are you thriving? Your role is critical to the success of your company - are you making the most of your opportunities?

04/23/2025

Create more influence - https://mailchi.mp/performanceoptimist/your-leadership-bucket-list-13875158

04/16/2025

I know I'm asking a lot -

Yes, you’ve been seeing a bit more of me lately, and I’ve been asking a lot of you. Seems like every other day I have another opportunity for you to engage or sign up for something.

04/14/2025

Bring your dog to work day? -

“Great engagement, loved the breakout sessions, enjoyed the pace of the training! Overall, very enjoyable and practical learning opportunity! Thank you for your Insight!”

04/09/2025

It's up to you! -

Yes, your employer can provide resources or even funds for development, but in 2025 there are far too many opportunities out there to learn and grow that don’t necessarily have to be driven by your employer.

04/04/2025

Hey Orlando peeps!!

On May 7, I will be hosting an in-person leadership training workshop for attractions/hospitality leaders called "Thriving in the Middle - A Survival Guide for Middle Managers".

Details and registration (required): https://shorturl.at/UIlwF

Hope to see you there!

Are you stuck, or are you thriving? Your role is critical to the success of your company - are you making the most of your opportunities?

03/31/2025

Training workshop in Orlando -

The topic is: "Thriving in the Middle - A Survival Guide for Middle Managers". We will explore the pitfalls and opportunities that come from being in the middle... and we're ALL in the middle of something!

03/20/2025

Redefining Modern Leadership -

I have had the pleasure of working with some great leaders over the years, and in the last few months especially, have been in the presence of some people who are defining and redefining what it means to be a leader in the modern attractions world. I have seen each of these folks recently in their ....

02/26/2025

When will people learn? -

We’ll be addressing questions like this on March 11 during our ALL CLEAR Learning Series focussed on Growing as a leader!