The Famous Pike Place Fish Market of Seattle - Book Report/Review Example

Fish: A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results Order No. 418489 March ‘10 Fish: A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve ResultsFish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results written by Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen is a book on management and leadership. The book draws its inspiration from the most unlikely source, and that is from the fun-loving fishmongers of the famous Pike Place Fish Market of Seattle. It has been written in the form of a parable. The authors here suggest that an organization can be more productive; more focused on the customer and have lesser turnover if it can learn to have fun. It teaches us how to enhance the morale of employees and improve the performance of an organization. In the words of the authors, “Enclosed are the keys to creating an innovative and accountable work environment where a playful, attentive, and engaging attitude leads to more energy, enthusiasm, productivity, and creativity." (Lundin, Paul and Christensen, 2000) The book addresses the most pressing work issues organizations face today. And it does so using metaphors. It has an appealing message for organizations of any kind. The book narrates the story of Mary Jane Ramirez, a recently widowed and mother of two, who works in a supervisory position at a financial company in Seattle. She is promoted to the position of manager of operations located on the dreaded third floor of the company. This department is infamously referred to as a “toxic energy dump” (Lundin, Paul and Christensen, 2000,). Although the employees of this department are basically good people, they seem to hate their jobs and this hatred is reflected in their bad attitude and their poor performance, both within the organization and with the customers. Mary Jane is asked to bring about a change in the mind-set of her department. She accepts this position reluctantly as this will give her an increase in pay and benefits. She is given the task of either turning the department around or downsizing it. She has no idea how she is going to do it. As she tries to find answers and solutions, she visits Seattles world-famous Pike Place Fish Market. She finds that the employees there shout and laugh, throw and catch fish as they serve customers. They include the customers also in the fun. They play and entertain, at the same time seeing to it that they provide remarkable customer service and sell lots of fish. She is curious and wants to know how they do this. She befriends Lonnie, one of the fishmongers working there and asks him to tell her the secrets of the markets success. Through him, she finds the four key lessons which will help her to turn around her department. The four key lessons to be learnt from the Pike Place philosophy are: 1. Choose your attitude: Even if one is bored with work, a positive attitude will always help. As the authors say “there is always a choice about the way you do your work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself” (Lundin, Paul and Christensen, 2000). 2. Play: The Pike Place Fish Market’s working atmosphere shows that even the dullest and the most mundane jobs can be fun if one can learn how to play while getting the job done. The customers also can be involved in this fun. 3. Make their day: One can create memorable moments for employees as well as customers each day by going out of the way to do something special for them. 4. Be present: In the midst of all the energy and fun, it is extremely important that one focuses on the customers while dealing with them. It is essential that they feel as though they are your only concern at that moment. At first Mary Jane is apprehensive about this new approach and how her department would react to this new approach. However when she initiates this philosophy into her workplace she finds that the employees are enthusiastic and eager about the new concept and in course of time her department becomes the most energetic department in the whole organization. The philosophy detailed in the book can be used when traditional management processes fail and when one is frustrated by the fact that implementing changes is not going to help improve situations. The lessons learnt from this book can be used for success both at work and in our personal lives. The lessons of “Choose Your Attitude," "Make Their Day," and "Be Present” are good motivational management techniques and can be used successfully to make the employees feel that they are working in a fun and happy workplace. The first lesson of the book is that one must find enjoyment and satisfaction in what one does in day-to-day actitivities either at work or in one’s daily life. Keeping this in mind one can initiate activities that can make the workplace a fun place. Laughter and fun can be used to build bridges between people. Employees like to work in an environment where there is fun and energy and where one can make a difference. This concept when used in an organization will benefit every employee and will prevent burnouts. The employees need to be excited about their work. Thoughts or ideas such as, work should be considered as a very serious matter and that there is no room for fun or that success of any business can be measured only by the profit a business brings in, should not be given prominence. In Lonnie’s words,” This is a real business which is run to make a profit. This business pays a lot of salaries, and we take the business seriously, but we discovered we could be serious about business and still have fun with the way we conducted business”. (Lundin, Paul and Christensen, 2000) This can be done by incorporating play into an organization. A number of companies these days use play in their workplaces to create a stimulating atmosphere. Microsoft is one such organization that encourages its employees to have fun. When play is integrated into an organization it helps to retain employees and also improve their performances. Integrating play in the workplace will ensure that employees like to come to the workplace. Another lesson from the book is how workers attitudes can have an impact on the work as well as on the quality of life. One cannot always choose the kind of work one does daily. But one can choose the type of attitude one brings to his work. If one’s attitude is positive, then one’s approach to the job will also be positive. When one chooses an attitude it helps to bring in accountability and also to put in your best performance. The power of goodwill with the customers and subordinates cannot be underestimated. According to the book by “making their day” of employees or customers with some special good gestures will bring in goodwill. One should go out of the way to do something extra special for the customer or the employees. This will create a positive impression and when this is done on a regular basis it will encourage loyalty and motivate an employee to be an achiever. This task will require a lot of discipline and patience and a change in attitude on the part of the person who wants to do something special. One also learns from the book the art of making the customer or another employee feel that they are the most important person during the period one is interacting with them. This will help in building relationships with the customer and other employees within the organization. One of the most important tasks to be performed while bringing about a change in the workplace is to improve customer service. One needs to find ways to engage customers and create an environment that is comfortable and interesting. This can be done by including the customer in some of the activities. One also needs to be alert and patient. In conclusion one can say that the authors of the book wish to convey to the readers that the philosophy of the Pike Place can be used as a guide for transforming a dull and boring organization into an organization that is fun. As with all good books the lessons taken from the book can be easily used in our personal and professional lives. The most important lesson that can be taken from the book and used in the workplace or in our daily lives is that changing our attitude can change life. As the authors say, “When we choose to love the work we do, we can catch our limit of happiness, meaning, and fulfillment every day". The idea of incorporating play into the workplace and living in the present when used can make any job or one’s life itself more enjoyable. References 1. Lundin Stephen, Paul Harry and Christensen John (2000), Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, Hyperion, 2000 Read More