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"SOMETHING's A LITTLE FISHY HERE!"
by Bobbe White, Better Banking Group
May 14, 2001
Bankers in seven community banks (Better Bank Group, Peoria, IL) were finding a new way to fish for fun around the office last week. The "Fish Philosophy," a delightful video about the successful antics of the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle was shown. The fishy theme included fish crackers (sweet ones for the a.m. sessions; cheddar cheese for the p.m. session) served on a fish plate, of course! The plates; napkins and forks were also decorated with fish. The flip chart's bullets were colorful fish and co-trainer, Doreen Huber, tossed out toy fish prizes to emphasize the points, "Release the Potential, Catch the Energy." Meanwhile, White, "swam" across the room in a comical fish-printed jumpsuit, that actually had been hooked from her wardrobe! "I almost gave this to the thrift shop this year, but something told me not to." To review the points, one banker in each of 9 sessions, found a fish taped underneath his/her chair. This gave them the privilege to keep the "prize" (we spare no expense in fine prizes!) and to lead the class through the four fish philosophy elements (Play, Make Their Day, Choose Your Attitude, Be There) while using the fish pen as a pointer which was provided with the video. Remarkably, each person, as they reviewed the four points, added a colorful touch to their presentation, many of whom had never been up in front of the class before. Many comments suggested that this was the best meeting in 30 years! After watching the video 9 times, White and Huber, never tired of it, and picked up new information with each viewing. "The lesson is a powerful one, mostly because it's real, it's happening in Seattle, every day. This isn't some staged vignette, like in many training tapes, " White commented.
