Unraveling the Magic of Organisational Culture

Hi folks, have you ever been to a business entity where employees are so passionate about their work that people are ready to cross International borders just to witness their exceptional energy?

Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle has visitors from all over the world not only to procure premium seafood but also to witness the enthusiastic fishmongers who throw their wares and have fun.

Pike Place Fish Market is “world famous” for making fish fly - a slippery trick that takes practice. The victory of this quintessential landmark does not lie in the throw, it's in the impact it has made.

The fish sellers always laugh, shout and toss salmon through the air, just behind their customer's heads. They indeed have fun during their work. At Pike Place Fish, there are no jobs; instead, there are vacancies for those who make the team. When coaching is needed, everyone/anyone has the responsibility to step up and contribute. The intention is for the coach to empower the other person to achieve.

I would say, that the Pike Place Fish Market has created a context for personal growth and development. Customer service and customer experience are their prime concern to date. This was made possible only by total commitment and a positive attitude. Present-day online marketing, social media strategy, click-bait advertising plans, or efforts to improve SEO rankings on Google were not needed to embrace their success.

But the scenario was totally different in 1986 when Pike Place Fish Market was inching towards bankruptcy. The proprietor appointed a consultant to sort out this problem. Inspirational management which calls for responsibility sharing and power sharing was suggested. The employees were allowed to be creative and manage themselves. To achieve the motto of becoming “world famous”, crazy practices like throwing fish, playing games with customers, and having cheerful staff were implemented.

The out-of-the-box thinking coupled with implementation has made Pike Place Fish Market world famous. This vision and consequent actions have become their company culture and made this place a legacy.

To sum up, the Pikeplace fish market provides the ever lasting mantra for success. Some of the successful companies that use fish philosophy are Apple, McDonald's, Bunnings, HOTA, and even Harley Davidson.

The success story of Pike Place fish market emphasises the need for a lively work culture as we spend an average of 1/3rd of our lifetime at work. It’s no surprise then that our work place and its culture have a huge impact on our quality of our personal life and performance. An exceptional organizational culture ensures that both the intrinsic and extrinsic motivational aspects are gratified.

This success story compels one to look inward at their own operation. Are we in a company where culture is in place? If yes, then how are we executing it consistently? If not, then where do we start in creating one?