If you’ve ever been to Seattle Washington and visited Pikes Market Place you’ve most likely experienced the Fish Mongers.
The book Fish! by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christensen and the Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZKiJejNRtw were inspired by these guys. If you haven’t been to Pikes Market Place, watch the video – it captures the moment.
What’s important is The Fish Philosophy:
- Choose your attitude.
- Find ways to play.
- Be present.
- Make their day.
A fun way to incorporate the Fish Philosophy to your sales team is to take them on an outing! What is your outing going to be?
One fun outing our team does with sales leaders before our coaching workshop translates easily with your sellers…. Go Bowling!
We add a little twist to the bowling event. Here’s how it goes:
Invite your sellers to go bowling. Line up the bowling alley, food, shoe rental, etc. Ask the bowling alley to allow each person 2 free practice frames. (Today, the bowling alley’s are all computerized and this generally needs to be negotiated in advance.) After the team takes their practice frames, gather in a huddle before the official games begin.
In the huddle announce you’ll be bowling 2 games. The first game is with your opposite dominant hand – and yes, you’ll hear a lot of groans! The second game is with your dominant hand. As you hear complaints and comments – “Why didn’t you tell us?” “Darn, I would have practiced with that hand.” and more – just smile and shrug your shoulders!
Then let the games begin!
The opposite dominant hand bowling is fun, funny, challenging and team building! There will be a lot of gutter balls and possibly some unhappy competitive players.
Often people expect the second round scores to be better – and they may not be. They aren’t concentrating as much or taking things for granted – and it shows in a lower score.
Remember it’s all in fun!
The next day award a variety of prizes – highest and lowest scores, best coach, most congeniality, best form, worst form, and anything else you can think of.
After gifting the awards lead a discussion with this question:
How was the bowling activity similar to your sales position?
It leads to an enlightening and engaging discussion which may include some of these concepts:
• We take our customers for granted
• Don’t react well when new information is given when least expected
• It takes teamwork to achieve new goals
• Effective communications improves time to performance
• Work better as a team
Where will you take your team on an outing to play and build a better performing sales team?
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