FISHing
January 24th, 2007 by Beth BogdanskiI really enjoyed Leslie Burger’s President’s Program this year. The topic was the FISH Philosophy. The Pike Place Fish Market is the inspiration for the the FISH Philosophy. They have taken a hard, smelly job and turned it into an attraction because of the attitude the workers bring to the market.
The FISH Philosophy is based on four principles 1) Play 2) Make their day-make people happy 3) Be there-pay attention, acknowledge people 4) Choose your attitude, choose to be happy.
These principles have turned an ordinary fish market into an experience. A place people go on their lunch hour to feel better, a place tourists visit because of the fun attitude.
I found this talk inspiring because it is all about you, me and us. It is not about having a lot of money for a new building or programming. It is about every library staff member bringing “the irresistible ingredient of you” (paraphrased from the speaker, Deena Ebert) to create an experience. There is nothing notable about a fish market on its own, except maybe the smell, it is the people behind the counter, or in front at the market, that make the difference.
The emphasis on fun also struck me. There is a seriousness in many libraries. Libraries do serious things like guard the world’s knowledge. Librarians work with the public and take their work very seriously. I liked the idea of thinking of the job in a different way, not to downplay the importance of the serious aspects of libraries at all, but rather increase the importance of having fun and laughing with customers and each other. At the fish market there is a seriousness about what they do too, no one wants bad fish and anyone that has had food poisoning will understand, but they infuse this serious task with so much fun and joy that customers are coming for that experience (and maybe buying some fish too).
I spend a lot of time thinking about “library as place” and the library experience. This program brought me a new perspective to consider and who doesn’t want to have a little more fun at work.
Tags: PLA Blog
|
Print this post
January 25th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Great post!
About 2 years ago, I first saw the Fish Philosophy video, and it crystalized some past experiences, thinking, and training for me. Every day that I walk into my small library, I have a goal to create enthusiastically satisfied customers all the time (to borrow a phrase from Starbucks.)
I deliberately put Fish Philosophy to work in my everyday interactions with staff and customers, and it pays off! It is true, we can create a dynamic, energetic atmosphere around us in the library–and customers respond! Making their day sets the stage for them very often making mine.
The Fish Philosophy video is somewhat expensive (since it was developed for the corporate world), but it is well worth sharing the cost with another agency to obtain it–and then using it periodically until the philosophy becomes a way of life. It is a way of transforming not only our environment in the public library–but ourselves, as well.
Dale Savage
Pima County Public Library (It’s Tucson!)
Dewhirst-Catalina branch
January 26th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Thanks for the feedback, and I’m pleased to hear of the success in your organization. FYI, there’s going to be a new personal development course in April called LeaderFISH! and a team/organization course that helps design and implement the kind of culture you want in your workplace called FISH! Culture. These, and ChartHouse services (keynote, facilitation & coaching), can help sustain, broaden, and deepen the impact of your FISH! training. We also hope that they also will enrich lives.
I’d love to know more about your FISH! trainings.
Mike Schechter
VP, ChartHouse Learning