FISH Training

Rockie

Have any of you guys used the FISH Training in your workplace? This is a philosophy born out of a training program originating in Seattle's Pike Place Fish Market.

Please let me know if any of you have used this in your work environment and success or failure stories.

Thanks!

mushroomHR

OK, I'll "bite". What is FISH Training?

Rockie

It's a training program that is based on four principles in the workplace.
Play, Make Their Day, Be There, Choose your Attitude. These principles are for both customers and employees on how they approach work and each other.

Supposedly it enhances morale by encouraging a fun workplace. It's fairly expensive to implement, so I was just looking for some feedback...you would only get positive feedback from those who sell these modules.

This was started in the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, WA where they have incorporated these principles. This evidently has been incorporated into many workplaces with good success.

TN HR

We used it with a short-lived amount of success. Initially, there was a lot of hype, themed decorations in offices/work areas but the momentum seemed to dissipate rather quickly. Approximately 90 days into it it just lost steam. In retrospect, we should have done a better job as leaders to maintain the program's visibility, so it is possible that others will have better results.

I enjoyed the book somewhat, however, it really didn't provide anything revolutionary. It reminded me a lot of "Who Moved My Cheese" in that at the end of each chapter you find yourself saying "duh"!

I am currently reading "Good to Great" and while it doesn't come with a cute program to implement in terms of themes and stuff like that, it is giving me a tremendous insight into what it takes to move a company to higher levels.

Gene

LivindonSouth

It is my understanding that two years in a row SMoll has traveled to somewhere to participate in the Annual Carp Tournament. On neither occasion has she even gotten a bite. I nominate her for FISH Training.

lhill

I've read about FISH training, but havent bitten, so to speak. I'm a little leary of programs like this. I'm sure it is worthwhile, but investing big bucks to make this a fun place to work--please. Our employees would rather we invest that money in enhanced benefits. Yeah, I know. I'm the curmudgeon of the day (COD).

Linda

System

Not true! NOT TRUE! Besides, it's called the Carp Master Tournament. It's held every June in Johnson City, TN - the first prize for the biggest carp being a bass boat. I had a few bites, but true, caught no carp. I did; however, have the 'cast of the day.' Next year the bass boat is mine!!!!!

Dutch2

I recall LIFO, FIFO and FISH from my discount merchandise retail days.
LIFO: last in first out
FIFO: first in first out
FISH: first in still here
A buyer did not want to get the FISH award....

No personal experience with this training method, but I too have heard good comments about the program.

AJ SPHR

Ok - I thought this training was about a process used in mfg companies to diagose the problem and come up with solutions. Anyone else remember that from the 90's? You drew a diagram like a fish with a line down the middle (horizontal) and then angled lines coming off of it? Or am I just crazy or did I just overdo my liquid lunch?8-|

BTW, to the other poster who mentioned Good to Great - I read that book last year and we used it as a discussion topic for a strategic planning session. I thought it was a great book with concepts you can apply to your personal life as well as the company (e.g. hedgehog - yes, there really is a hedgehog concept described that has a stupid name but a good description)

System

Two weeks ago I attended a "Who moved my cheese" management training session at the college. Next class is "FISH." I've been looking forward to it. You can do a search and download some good information on the program.

TN HR

We used it with a short-lived amount of success. Initially, there was a lot of hype, themed decorations in offices/work areas but the momentum seemed to dissipate rather quickly. Approximately 90 days into it it just lost steam. In retrospect, we should have done a better job as leaders to maintain the program's visibility, so it is possible that others will have better results.

I enjoyed the book somewhat, however, it really didn't provide anything revolutionary. It reminded me a lot of "Who Moved My Cheese" in that at the end of each chapter you find yourself saying "duh"!

I am currently reading "Good to Great" and while it doesn't come with a cute program to implement in terms of themes and stuff like that, it is giving me a tremendous insight into what it takes to move a company to higher levels.

Gene

LivindonSouth

Next they will give the Toyota System books to you. We have rooms lined with strategic deployment objectives, metrics, strategy deployment timing charts, start points, missed objectives, relationship matrices, competitive evalutions, Quality function deployment plans, action item repeatability and reproducibility, pareto charts, bar charts, scatter diagrams, radar and line charts and a couple of failure mode & effects analyses. But, we somehow missed decorating the walls with colored construction paper and dropping glitter from ceiling fans.

The world of consultants is a dynamic thing that will get ahold of the tail of each of us sooner or later. I want a job selling minnows, crickets and Falstaff. With a Moped for transport and some baloney for lunch.

TN HR

Uh oh, sorry for the double post, I have no idea what happened. But, while I'm at it, I would like to remind everyone of the many pitfalls of the SA..........Ha! Gotcha Don!

Seriously, though, sorry for the double post. I actually wanted to reccomend "Good to Great" to everyone. I am absolutely in love with the book, it's concepts and, like VPHR (I think it was) said, it's applicability to just about anything.


Gene

Dutch2

I recently heard they were either about to stop or already had stopped the production of Falstaff. Am I having a senior moment or do I remember Dizzy Dean and Pee-Wee Reese calling the baseball games and the games being sponsored by Falstaff beer?

LarryC

To all you folks reading "Good to Great", it is one of the best books I've read in some time (except for "How to Make Love Like Porn Star", by Jenna Jaimeson).

One thing that amazed me about GTG is the extensive research that went into the book. Most of the managers here have read it and we live by "Get the right people on the bus and in the right seats." After you read the book, get the CD's or tapes. It will greatly enhance your understanding of the book.

Jenna's book is a study in human survival and eventual success. I highly recommend it. It's not what the title suggests, although she does cover the subject along with some ten commandments.

Rockie, what is so expensive about having a fun workplace?

Rockie

I dunno Larry. Trying to figure out what's so funny about fish anyway!

The expensive part is purchasing this canned program with dubious results. Videos run around $600 and a "program kit" runs around $1600. Personally, I think it's a ripoff and you can do a lot of the same things yourself and use the extra funds to pay for gift certificates, lunches, etc., which employees appreciate more.

LivindonSouth

Nothing like an old man who married much beneath himself chronologically and much above himself in other respects reading a book on how to make love. Be careful or you'll be sending her back to the chiroquacktor. The underlying question, tho, is do you really want to make love like a woman?

HRPager

We are currently using it, and I would say that although the concept is good, it is just like any other program. We have those that are mad if someone else gets nominated, those that are always nominated, and those that get nominated for basicly doing their job. . .

Hard to win with any type of program like this.

TN HR

I heard that a certain forum member has had a lot of success with something similar to what Larry is reading. The title is "How to Make Love Like Ned Beatty".

LivindonSouth

As I recall, Ole Ned was not on the Makin' end of the equation.

TN HR

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True.

LivindonSouth

It took you three (3) attempts to get that one word posted?

TN HR

Not quite. I made a snide remark about Ned faking orgasms. There, if you must know