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Creating a Vision of Power and Possibility
Seeing the Big Fish
John Yokoyama is Owner of the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market. He explained that what it meant to be “world famous” was to make a difference for the people the market touched. The purpose wasn’t just to be famous. It was to be famous for being great with people—for free—just for the fun of it. And that’s what happened.
With the declaration of World Famous Pike Place Fish, his company evolved from one that sold fish to one that was interested in extraordinary service to customers and to the world.
As Antoine De Saint-Exupery put it, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather up the wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
Yokoyama described a saying at the fish market, “The fish stinks from the head.” Since he has always been the head of the Pike Place Fish Market, he pointed out that when things stink around there, it starts with him. Here’s how he described his responsibilities:
- Make a world-famous difference in the lives of everyone who comes into the business.
- Empower the people he works with, so they can make a world-famous difference for each other, the customer, the community, and beyond.
- Demonstrate what is possible when you empower your employees.
Achieving Individual Commitment and Team Alignment
Rowing as One
Many business owners spend a lot of time teaching people how to do their jobs and far less time explaining the greater purpose of the work.
Make it clear that you don’t have jobs, just openings for people who share your vision.
The reality offered at Pike Place Fish goes like this: You can come to work and affect the world for the better. You can matter in the lives of others. You can share a powerful vision with our team and create breakthrough success, and yes, you can do all that while throwing and selling fish.
Focusing on the Process for Achieving Success
It’s not About the Fish, It’s About the Experience of Fishing
Many people go fishing their entire lives and never realize it is not the fish they are after. Rather than focusing on their journey of their lives, people think only of arriving at a specific destination. The business philosophy of Pike Place Fish emphasizes the importance of the journey in each moment.
Being vs. Doing
Who am I “being” right now? You don’t have to plan how to “do” world famous things; rather it is a matter of clarifying intentions and realigning commitment to live those intentions… Being is not the absence of planning. It simply implies you are note wedded to your plan; instead, you are committed to your intention.
Nelson Mandela said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be bright, brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
Giving Staff Ownership
By living the vision, the staff learn their job duties quickly, accept the coaching of their peers, offer constructive feedback and support to their coworkers, master the technical skills of the job, provide exceptional customer service, take responsibility for themselves, and take risks to create new ways to become world famous. Their actions follow from their intentions to make a world-famous difference.
While we often think of “doing” as an active process and “being” a passive one, creating an intention is very active and energizing.
Pike Place’s secret to success lies in commitment to being who they say they are. Just be it.
Changing Yourself First
Breaking Free from the Net
It is amazing how many breakthrough ideas came from creative staff in support of the vision once leaders opened up to accepting those ideas.
Choosing Powerful Conversations
Removing the Hook
Each of us participates in internal dialogues. Much of this self-talk prevents us, and the people who work with us, from realizing our full potential.
When the owner changed his thoughts about his little brother’s managerial competence, how quickly things changed! His brother had more space to become a success, received less criticism for mistakes and was offered more assistance with problem solving, then he emerged as a world-class manager.
If your self-talk says all of the people around you are incompetent, it’s likely you’ll try to do everything by yourself. When you shift conversations and explore the greatness of your team members, you’re likely to be a person who creates opportunities for their strengths to show up on the job. Sometimes it’s not about “doing” more but changing your limiting conversation.
Making a Difference by Listening Intently
Hush, or the Fish Won’t Bite
Leading Through Listening
If you are not listening actively to your crew, you will fail to create the environment where they will listen to each other and to your customers. Your behavior sets the tone for the company.
Employees are not “human resources”; they are people. Try not to see team members as human resources similar to computers, paper products, and other supplies. Your staff is made up of very special people.
Brenda Ueland said, “When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually grow within us and come to life.”
Yokoyama explains, “My commitment to my employees is to make their lives great. When I see a fishmonger looking or acting as if he thinks he is a celebrity, I ask, ‘Are you being famous? Or are you being someone who is making a world-famous difference?’”
It is sad how many people are walking around with a deep need and desire to be heard.
Service to customers at Pike Place Fish really is about listening in such a way that they take attention off themselves and place it on the customers.
Coaching for Greatness
From Minnows to Whales
All of us have a certain amount of resistance to change. Rather than accepting coaching that serves the good of the team, we get caught up in wanting to do things our way. Coaching is a vehicle that allows people to stay aligned with one another. It is the glue that binds the team together.
Internal conversations that inhibit effective coaching:
- “It’s easier to do it myself.”
- “Why should I coach them? They’re not going to take it well.”
- “What’s the use? I’ve told them this before and it hasn’t changed.”
- “They have more experience than I do. What do I have to offer them?”
Coaching fails when a person isn’t operating from an intention to assist others.
It is impossible to be powerful in the present when your conversation is “how things were back then.” You can’t create your future from “back then.”
The success of coaching starts with staff’s intention to make a world-famous difference and commitment to care enough to consistently share supportive, compassionate comments and ideas with one another.
Turning Workplace Challenges into Breakthroughs
Unsnagging the Line
“Help your brother’s boat across, and you will reach the shore.”
Hindu Proverb
In the old days at Pike Place Fish, every time something went wrong, Yokoyama was looking for someone to blame. Now, he chooses his reactions. Instead of looking for blame and getting stuck in figuring out what went wrong, each chooses to let the commitment to make a difference for people guide them.
Problems can occur on teams when leaders make decisions without asking for input from their staff.
Sometimes overwhelming success serves as the great opportunity for a breakthrough, particularly because accomplishment can breed complacency. If you win the championship, it’s easy to stop generating success.
Taking a Stand
Finding Your Fish Worth Catching
To have maximum influence in the world, young people need to define a powerful purpose, choose conversations that reinforce that purpose, and understand the difference between “being” and “doing.”
If Pike Place Fish can make a world-famous difference from a small storefront with zero advertising in a smelly, physically challenging profession, then what’s possible for you, your business, your family, and your community?