Pardon the bad pun but it’s not only our brain and skin cells that can benefit from a healthy dose of FISH. But our mindset, our positivity and our overall team culture can get a boost of goodness too!
And pleasingly, you don’t have to catch a smelly FISH or stink out the office kitchen with your tinned tuna (come on, there’s always one!) to make that happen.
Way (way) back in the 90’s a film maker was on holidays in Seattle and walking through the famous Pike Place Market. While there he was captivated by the energy and commotion of fish throwing, laughter generating team mates engaging so positively with the customers that he eventually caught up with the owners of Pike Place Fish Market to understand how they’d created the team culture he had witnessed.
A long story short – the four philosophies the Pike Place Fish Market staff were taught and lived every day – was commercialised and many of us working in people and culture at the time (myself included) came to know and love it.
Simply called the FISH Philosophy, I have fond memories of implementing it into a workplace some 20+ years ago and my love for it has never vanished. Which is why it was a little bit of a bucket list moment when I caught up with some of the team and got to visit whilst on my hols recently.
Now I know not too many people get excited by a fish market, certainly not me generally, but it really was profound for me to stand there and see where it all began.
And yes, it’s still alive and well today. Ryan, the Team Leader I met with shared with me that new staff are still orientated on the principles, but they are slightly different to what was commercialised. Same meaning, different language. And the fact the principles are still in action today was certainly visible while we were there with fish flying through the air and staff singing. It still has a great vibe!
So enjoy these snaps from my special moment below, some of which contain the original musings of the philosophy and below I’ve provided two things for you:
1) More detail on each of the four principles along with my Tan’s Tips to make them even better , and
2) An infographic you can download to keep handy.
Enjoy and think about focusing in on even one of these principles to put a boost in your day and your teams.
Good luck and let me know how you go!
Tan x
The Four Fish Principles
Be There
Be emotionally present for people. It’s a powerful message of respect that improves communication and strengthens relationships. (Tan’s Tip: Put your phone down!)
Play
Tap into your natural way of being creative, enthusiastic and having fun. Play is the spirit that drives the curious mind, as in “Let’s play with that idea!” You can bring this mindset to everything you do. (Tan’s Tip: Laughter has scientific benefits to our mental and physical wellbeing, inject it through play).
Make Their Day
Find simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. It’s about contributing to someone else’s life—not because you want something, but because that’s the person you want to be. (Tan’s Tip: Random acts of kindness are the bees knees for this!)
Choose Your Attitude
Take responsibility for how you respond to what life throws at you. Your choice affects others. Ask yourself: “Is my attitude helping my team or my customers? Is it helping me to be the person I want to be?” (Tan’s Tip: For me this is about what you choose to bring with you when you step into the office (physically or virtually)? Bring a smile. Just smiling makes you feel better.)
Reference and more information: What is Fish? | Improve Company Culture | FISH! Philosophy
> Download in Word Doc
> Download a fancy Infographic
Tanya Heaney-Voogt
Director & Principal Consultant
MBA, ICFACC, MAHRI, Dip Mgt, Dip Coaching, Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner
E: tanya@tanyaheaneyvoogt.com
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