Emily Witko, GPHR 🤗’s Post

These folks right here! These are real MVPs when it comes to the operations you see out in the park. They are the engine that keeps the wheels of Ride Operations turning. You see all those ride operators out there staffing rides, these guys made sure they were there for you. You see those rides testing, these guys made sure every single one of them are safe for you. You see all those associates brooms in hand cleaning, these guys brought that broom to them. When I tell you the role of these guys right here is important, I mean we 100000% could not do it without them. And it’s truly a pleasure to do so with people who are so passionate about the industry and working with people. When it comes to writing nominations for our Values awards, sometimes the words can be hard to find to summarize a great contribution to the team in a few short sentences. But let me tell you, when it comes to the definition and meaning of what our Cornerstones and Core Values are, these folks right here would be the picture in the dictionary. Please join me in celebrating them for receiving their Values awards for all the hard work they do day in and day out.

Throwback to our first awards' night together ♡ Why 𝑷𝑳𝑼𝑺? It's simply about encouraging everyone to be a 𝑷𝑳𝑼𝑺 to the environment. It's easy to feel that your current job environment isn't giving you enough. It's healthier to consider what more you can give to the environment. Recently, a candidate asked me what it takes to be on the PLUS team. I replied, 'I'll take you under three conditions that you must agree to.' These conditions are 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 to each candidate. 1. For the amount of grievances you have now, I hope you'll maintain the same level of gratitude when you succeed. 2. Allow me to remind you each time defensiveness surfaces, just for a year. Allowing me to remind you means you actually recognize and accept it. 3. Complete your homework. Guess which one he said was the hardest? What would be the hardest for you? Are you able to tell which values I am focusing on? If you share the same values and are passionate about making a meaningful impact, I warmly invite you to join our team and contribute to the 𝑷𝑳𝑼𝑺 vision. 💪🏻

*𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 *𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒅? 🤔** Recognition doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen. If you want your hard work to be seen, it's up to you to put it in the spotlight. 🌟 But here’s the thing: it’s not enough to work hard in silence. You need to take charge, be visible, and ensure that what you do gets the recognition it deserves. ⏳✨ 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆: 𝑩𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆: Make sure you’re seen in the spaces that matter. Share your successes and let others know what you’re achieving. 🔦 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒍𝒚: Don’t shy away from showcasing your hard work. If you don’t promote yourself, who will? 📣 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒆: Connect with others and build relationships that highlight your contributions. Be proactive in making sure you stand out. 🤝 It’s not about waiting for recognition; it’s about making sure you’re noticed. Start today by taking charge of your presence. 🌟

Focusing on the roles we play is far more important than the titles we hold. Titles are temporary and can change, but the impact of the roles we perform will be remembered.  Those who prioritize titles should consider the reality that once these titles are gone, the recognition may fade. However, if we truly fulfill our roles and responsibilities, the positive impact we make will last, regardless of any title changes. It's the contributions we make and the value we add that define our legacy.

For a long time, I wanted to be the first, the top, the best. When I was in school, I was always in competition with my classmates and I loved winning as many awards as possible. 🥇 But as I get older, things have slowly shifted. I've seen some people on LinkedIn post about the awards they've won recently (which is amazing — congrats to all these agencies!!), and my competitive brain wants to jump in and see what I can "win." It's so nice to be recognized, and it feels great to be at the top. But I also know that it's ok to fly under the awards radar. Because, at the end of the day, I want to know if I'm influencing those in my smaller circle positively. Here are some questions I like to ask myself: • Am I doing my best work, without compromising quality? • Am I having fun at work? • Are our clients happy with the work we're doing for them? Are we meeting their goals? • Do we communicate well with our clients and within our team? • Does my job allow me to have the life I want (and not the other way around)? • Is my team happy with their work and not stressed or headed towards burnout? I'm almost always able to answer "yes" to all of these, and that brings me a whole lot of joy and contentment on a weekly basis. For me (and my team, and our clients!), that's a win. 💛

GreenSquareAccord has announced receiving 254 nominations for their Gold Star Awards, describing this as an impressive 42% increase over last year’s entries. However, this claim seems somewhat underwhelming, especially considering their workforce size and the upcoming expenditure for the awards ceremony. To put this in perspective, with an employee base ranging between 1,000 and 5,000, the 254 nominations represent only about 5.08% to 25.4% of their total staff. Last year’s nominations, calculated to be around 179, indicate a low participation rate. Moreover, it is important to note that these nominations are solely from staff members, with no input from customers or residents. This exclusion is disheartening, particularly considering the crucial role that customers and residents play in the organisation’s operations. Their feedback and recognition would provide a more comprehensive and authentic measure of performance and service quality. When considering the costs associated with organising and hosting an awards ceremony, including logistics, venue, awards, and lost productivity, one must question the efficiency and impact of this exercise. The expenditure seems extravagant and not necessarily reflective of broad recognition across the organisation. Given these figures and the lack of customer/resident involvement, it's crucial to consider whether the awards genuinely enhance morale and recognition or if they simply serve as a costly tradition with limited reach. In light of these numbers, the resources allocated to the Gold Star Awards might be better invested in more impactful employee and customer engagement initiatives, or better yet spent making the homes of their residents safe, warm and dry.

Happy Admin Professionals Month! 🎉 I don't know about you, but I find it challenging to receive recognition for my work. Being recognized on Admin Professionals Day has always felt a bit awkward to me. How do you prefer your executive and team to recognize you? Is receiving a bouquet of flowers a nice gesture, or do you think it's a bit overdone? Do you remind your executive about Admin Professionals Day approaching? How can we make this little day of recognition better? Share your thoughts in the comments 👇

Nobody will remember: - How busy you were - How many hours you worked - How many followers you have on Social Media - How many awards you received - How many titles or positions you held Everyone will remember: - How you show kindness and generosity - How you celebrate the success of others - How you acted during challenging times - If you demonstrated integrity - Whether or not they can count on you - Those super cool shoes you wore to the all-employee retreat (probably)

Before the end of Q2, I want to hurry up with the news from the previous quarter. I was honored to be named the Marketing Team’s Key Player of Q1!   Screenshot with my grateful, happy face, eagerly awaiting this post for almost 3 months 😁 🎉 This recognition has truly inspired me, and it got me thinking about the power of appreciation. Our recent launch of the internal recognition hub really highlighted how important it is to foster motivation and a positive culture among the team. Creating a culture of recognition isn’t just a checkbox for the Employer Brand; it’s an integral part of a thriving team where everyone benefits: ✔ The company gains a high-performing, loyal workforce. ✔ Team experiences a boost in motivation and job satisfaction. So, here’s a little reminder for all of us: don’t wait until the end of a project to give props. Celebrate those small wins too!

When it comes to showing recognition for the good work people do, bigger isn't always better. Sure, accolades and awards can be great. But have you ever had someone tell you how grateful they are for you? No spot lights. No LinkedIn post. No blasting it on the company email chain. Just one-on-one, Telling someone how special they are. Now that's something people never forget. You see, Many managers think showing recognition has to be this big public occasion. They'll go through all the trouble to show recognition, But won't take the little step to thank someone privately. Here's a groundbreaking thought ... do both! Do the big stuff sure, But remember it's the private stuff that feels really meaningful. Some great ways to better show appreciation to your team: https://buff.ly/4bHvMKq.