About fifteen years ago, a book titled Fish! A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results took the country by storm. Like most books of its kind, it was light on specifics but important inasmuch as it began to focus attention on the importance of organizational culture. As I have said more than once, culture trumps strategy, every time. [bctt tweet=”….culture trumps strategy, every time.” via=”no”]
FISH! is an entertaining read that takes its lessons from one of the fish vendors at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. There are four points to the FISH! philosophy:
- PLAY: create an organizational environment that is serious…and fun. Be the kind of place that creates energy by just being together as a team;
- MAKE THEIR DAY: be the kind of colleague that “makes the day” of fellow colleagues—and customers—every day. There are many ways to be that kind of a person. It may be lending a hand to a colleague who is running late on a deadline, or bringing in homemade coffee cake for the break room. Simple acts of kindness transform cultures over the long run; [bctt tweet=”Simple acts of kindness transform cultures over the long run;” via=”no”]
- BE PRESENT: Being fully present is similar to what I have talked about in previous blog posts as the discipline of “listening.” Are you completely engaged when you’re talking to a work colleague, or is your mind running through a list of “to do’s” instead?
- CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: There is a wonderful seminar taught on our campus on the subject of personal empowerment. Personal empowerment training helps people to see themselves as “actors” in their life as opposed to “victims” of perpetual circumstance. In lots of way, it’s simply about the attitude you adopt when you get out of bed in the morning. Chances are, if you want it to be a great day, it will be a great day—despite the obstacles!
As you watch the video below, see if you can identify the four features of the FISH! philosophy. And, remember, culture trumps strategy every time!
