FISH! PHILOSOPHY AT
WORK
WVAEA Conference
Friday October 10,
2008
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
AGENDA
1. Introduction and Purpose - 5 MINUTES
2. Show FISH! – 20 MINUTES
3. Reflect on the Film – 5 MINUTES
4. Put Principles into action
BE THERE -15 MINUTES ARE YOU PRESENT?
MAKE THEIR DAY – 15 MINUTES FEEDBACK
PLAY- 15 MINUTES WORK VS PLAY
CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE – 15 MINUTES
OBJECTIVES
• UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF
FISH! IN YOUR ORGANIZATION
• UNDERSTAND THE FOUR
PRINCIPLES OF FISH!
• APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF FISH!
TO WORK
ACTIVITY
• Introduce yourself and why you are
taking this session
FISH!
• Watch the movie!
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES
OF FISH!
• BE THERE
• MAKE THEIR DAY
• PLAY
• CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE
BE THERE
• Nearly all of us have learned to listen only
for what fits what we want to hear. It’s
difficult to hear what other people are
saying if your mind is busy with concerns,
fears or judgments about who they are or
why their words are right or wrong, or if
you are preparing a response. BE THERE,
being truly present, means suspending what
you think you know while you are listening.
BE THERE
ARE YOU PRESENT?
• TAKE A SLIP OF PAPER AND A
PEN.
• WRITE DOWN ANYTHING
THAT MAY BE TROUBLING YOU
RIGHT NOW, OR ANY EMOTION
YOU MAY BE FEELING
BE THERE
• Have paper and pencil ready.
• Pick a partner.
• Choose an object. Turn your back.
Describe the object to your partner.
• Did your partner draw the same
object?
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES
OF FISH!
• BE THERE
• MAKE THEIR DAY
• PLAY
• CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE
MAKE THEIR DAY
• It’s natural to want to MAKE THEIR DAY when
it comes to those who brighten your day. But
what about those coworkers or customers who
seem to suck the energy out of a room
whenever they enter? Why not see how far
this principle can go and conspire with a few
coworkers to MAKE THEIR DAY? You might be
surprised at their positive responses, and they
might pass it on. After all, everyone wants to
feel valued.
MAKE THEIR DAY
• THINK ABOUT A TIME WHEN SOMEONE
MADE YOUR DAY. WHAT CHANGED YOUR
MOOD?
• WHAT DO YOU DO TO PUT YOUR LOVED ONES
IN A BETTER MOOD?
• WHAT CAN YOU DO TO MAKE YOUR GOOD
MOOD AND ENERGY CONTAGIOUS?
• LOOK FOR GROUCHY PEOPLE. CAN YOU MAKE
THEM SMILE?
MAKE THEIR DAY
• FEEDBACK GAME
TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER, CRAYONS and MARKERS.
Write your name on the top of your paper. Have Fun!
Pass the paper to your right.
Write something you like, respect or admire about that
person.
Pass the paper to your right.
Write something you respect or admire about that person.
Continue this process until you get the paper back with
your name on it.
MAKE THEIR DAY
Follow up:
How did it feel to read the positive
comments about yourself?
Have you heard all these positive statements
before?
How well or often do we give positive
feedback or look for the good in others?
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES
OF FISH!
• BE THERE
• MAKE THEIR DAY
• PLAY
• CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE
PLAY
• PLAY is a spirit. It is more than just fun,
it is an invitation to lightheartedness.
• PLAY is the feeling you release inside
people when they are enthused and
committed.
• PLAY makes your job fun.
• PLAY energizes the creativity and
problem-solving abilities within you.
• PLAY makes boring tasks, easier to do.
PLAY
• WORK vs PLAY
WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU
FEEL WHEN YOU FEEL WHEN YOU
ARE AT “WORK”? ARE AT “PLAY”?
Activity
NEXT TIME I WANT TO ROLL MY EYES, I
PLAN
TO………………………………………………………………………
………………………….
THE MOST UNPLEASANT PART OF MY
JOB WOULD BECOME MY FAVORITE
PART IF ONLY I GOT TO
……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES
OF FISH!
• BE THERE
• MAKE THEIR DAY
• PLAY
• CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE
CHOOSE YOUR
ATTITUDE
There are many things we can’t control, the
weather, other human beings, economic
downturns, traffic, management decisions.
The only thing we can control is our
response to these and other challenges.
Sometimes it means standing up for what
needs to change. Sometimes it means
accepting what is.
CHOOSE YOUR
ATTITUDE
• IN ORDER TO LIVE THE OTHER THREE
PRINCIPLES CONSISTENTLY, YOU WILL
HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHETHER
YOU WANT TO OR NOT, YOU CHOOSE
YOUR ATTITUDE
• NO MATTER HOW BAD A SITUATION
IS, THERE ARE ALWAYS LITTLE
THINGS TO CELEBRATE AND
APPRECIATE
CLOSING
• THANK YOU NOTES
• SO WHAT I LEARNED WAS…..
• NOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO
IS ……
SUGGESTED READING
FISH!
FISH! For Life
FISH Tales