What Does a Fish Market Teach About Employee Morale?

Do you find it difficult to go to a job that is no longer fun? Are the depressed spirits of your coworkers bringing you down? It doesn't matter what the cause of your unhappiness is. There is something that you can do about it. Now is the time to start enjoying work again.

When surrounded by unhappy people, realize that you have the power to effect a positive change on your coworkers. If you truly want to create a better work environment, you can use the advice that follows.

This article develops an idea from a great book on the subject of employee morale. For the whole story, read "Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results" by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen.

"Fish!" tells the fictional story of Mary Jane Ramirez, a widowed mother of two who is challenged with turning around the worst department at First Guarantee. The third floor is a place that one VP describes as a toxic waste dump. The employees of this unit have low opinions of their department that are echoed by many employees in the building.

Mary Jane decides to turn things around after her experience observing the staff of a world-famous fish market in Seattle. The fishmongers of the Pike Place Fish market exhibit energy and camaraderie that is contagious, inspiring her to revolutionize the third floor.

According to Lundin, Paul, and Christensen, the first key principle that made the fish market a fun place to work was: "We can choose the attitude we bring to our work."

What you can learn from the fish market is a simple lesson that Mary Jane learned quickly. If fishmongers can find a way to make their difficult, smelly job fun, anyone can.

Here are a few suggestions for how to bring the idea of choosing your attitude to transform your own workplace. It can be really challenging to produce a change alone, but it is worth a try. The best bet is to find a few allies at work who also want to see the morale improve. Next, you can work together to spread the message. Little by little, win other people over to your cause. Smiling and positive attitudes are contagious. Over time, you will find that people would rather enjoy their job than stay miserable.

Have faith that eventually they will come around.

In the end, your final result might be like Mary Jane's outcome. People might be waiting in line to work in your department. Don't forget to pick up a copy of "Fish!" at your local bookstore or library and explore the great ideas that Mary Jane used to transform her department.