|
Lessons to be learned from flying fish
'Real people taking real pride in what they do'
 Assistant
Superintendent Dominick Baggetta urged staff to "go fishing"
this school year.
Not with bait and hooks, but with their attitudes and commitment
to the principles of the "Fish!" philosophy.
Mr. Baggetta hooked his audience during the September 2006
Opening Day program with a lively video depicting the Pike Place
Fish Market in Seattle.
Produced by a documentary film maker who happened one day upon
the zany antics of these west-coast fish market employees,
"Fish!" is the result of "one mans passion behind a camera
trying to tell an ordinary story of a rather extraordinary group
of fishmongers."
"It's not really about throwing," said John Christensen, who
created the video for Charthouse Learning. "What it's really
about is serving people, throwing yourself into what you're
doing. It's about being engaged with your work."
At first glance, it sure looks like it's about throwing fish.
The camera pans around the fish market, capturing men throwing
fish to co-workers and onlookers who try to catch them with
sheets of paper, all the while teasing customers and keeping up
a steady banter of humor and good-natured sales pitches cleverly
disguised as "playing."
Although part of the Pike Place Fish Market "flying fish"
culture began as a way for employees to relieve the tedium of an
otherwise rather ordinary job, Mr. Christensen says their antics
allow employees to bring energy, passion and fun to the work
they do each day.
The lessons of Fish!: Four key points
Imagine 12 guys working 14-hour days, standing on their feet,
wrapping fish and waiting on customers. No way could it still be
fun after just a few of those marathon sessions. Actually, it
can, as the video clearly shows. "It's about being crazy, doing
little things, having fun with the customers," says one employee
in the video.
Here's how:
Play
Make their day
Be there
Choose your attitude
Playing will look different, depending on where you work. "It
doesn't have to be about throwing fish," one Pike Place employee
said. "The minute you try to imitate us, you're stuck."
When customers see you are having fun, it's like a feeding
frenzy, and they will want to join in, too, say the fishmongers.
So go ahead, make their day. Go above and beyond to provide
extraordinary customer service. Make people happy. Be there by
being present and aware of what is going on. Look customers in
the eye. Acknowledge people when they walk by, even if they are
just looking. And most importantly, choose your attitude. "You
are here making a living," says a fellow in the video. "You have
a choice. Are you going to be upset all day or be happy all
day?"
What this means for HFM BOCES
"Let's borrow a little bit of the Fish! philosophy," Mr.
Baggetta said at the conclusion of showing the video. "Let's
make our lives more enjoyable" while also making their day for
students and the people we work with every day.
"Let's be there. Let's listen to our students, parents, the
community, our school partners and each other. And most
importantly," Mr. Baggetta concluded, "let's choose an attitude.
Let's have a great year. Let's go fishing!"
|
