Transcript Leadership Growth Project: FISH! Philosophy

Making Waves in Residence Life:
The FISH! Philosophy Going to Work in Student Affairs
Proposal by:
Christina A. Pascucci
COMM 560 – Communication Issues for Leaders
December 6, 2011
Activity – My Brown Paper Bag
My Brown Paper Bag – Write a way each person has
brought the FISH Philosophy to class or how each person
in class has talked about a way they used the FISH
Philosophy within their own organization.
Executive Summary/Project Overview
 Problem – Who Are You?
 Importance of Teambuilding
 Benefits of Team Connection
 Using FISH! Philosophy in Residence Life
 3-Part Process – Summer Training
 Elements of Proposal
 Interviews
Background Information/Statement of the Problem
 Lack of Connection
 Being a Resident Advisor
 Importance of Teambuilding
“The proper functioning and successful development of any company or organization largely
depends on teamwork efficiency. Good team relationships can make it into a productive
group with great morale and motivation. Therefore, team building activities are aimed at
improving communication and collaboration skills within and between groups of people
working together. As team building has to do with cooperation, bridge building, planning,
and effective use of resources, the benefits team building activities may bring are countless:
improvement in planning skills, problem solving, decision making, time management,
friendly competition, personal confidence, morale, etc.”
Project Detail
Goals & Objectives:
 1. For every member of the Residence Life team to know one
another by the end of Teambuilding Day/Retreat and to have
had a conversation with every other member by the end of
training. This will be demonstrated by being able to complete
the My Brown Paper Bag activity at the closing of Summer
Training.
 2. To improve team communication, collaboration, cooperation,
and problem-solving.
 3. To effectively apply the FISH Philosophy throughout
Teambuilding Day/Retreat, Summer Training, and learn how to
apply it throughout the year as well.
 4. To evaluate the efforts of teaching and applying the FISH
Philosophy.
Project Detail
Staff:
 Participants - all members of the Residence Life team
including all Resident Advisors, House Managers, Residence
Directors, House Directors, and Area Directors.
 Director and Associate Dean are invited to come if available
to attend.
 The total amount of staff is approximately 120 people.
Project Detail
Methods:
 Proposed - FISH Philosophy utilized in 3-part process
 During Summer Residence Life Training – August
 Part 1: Training Opening Session – 1st Night of
Training
 Part 2: Teambuilding Day – 1st Full Day of Training
 Part 3: Debriefing & Evaluation Session – Same Day
After Dinner
Part 1: Training Opening Session – 1st Night of Training
 Welcome
 Icebreaker Activity:
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People to People (Anatomy Clumps)
Have the large group stand in a circle. Have a leader call out a body
part and a number. (ie. 5 elbows) Everyone has to immediately get
into groups of five with their five elbows sticking together in the
center. Keep doing this with different body parts and numbers. Each
time a group gets together, they should be introducing themselves.
The last one should be a ridiculous number with a ridiculous body
part (ie. eyelashes). Most will not do it and they will probably sit
back down and the game can just end on a funny note.
Review of Training Schedule
Presentation of FISH Philosophy
Discussion of How to Apply FISH Philosophy Within Training &
Teambuilding Day
Explain FISH Philosophy Recognition Activity: My Brown Paper
Presentation of FISH! Philosophy
 Show video and go over the four principles.
 What is The FISH! Philosophy? 4 simple, interconnected practices:
 1. Be There is being emotionally present for people. It’s a powerful message of
respect that improves communication and strengthens relationships.
 2. Play taps into your natural way of being creative, enthusiastic and having
fun. Play is the spirit that drives the curious mind, as in “Let’s play with that
idea!” It’s a mindset you can bring to everything you do.
 3. Make Their Day is finding simple ways to serve or delight people in a
meaningful, memorable way. It’s about contributing to someone else’s life, not
because you want something out of it, but because that’s the person you want
to be.
 4. Choose Your Attitude means taking responsibility for how you respond to
what life throws at you. Once you are aware that your choice impacts everyone
around you, you can ask yourself, “Is my attitude helping my team or my
customers? Is it helping me to be the person I want to be?”
 Through The FISH! Philosophy, we build stronger relationships with the team
members we work with, the customers we serve, the students we teach and the
people we love.
Discussion of How to Apply FISH Philosophy Within
Training & Teambuilding Day
 1. Be There! – How will you Be There?
 2. Play! - In what ways can you Play?
 3. Make Their Day! – Who’s day will you make?
 4. Choose Your Attitude! – How do you choose your
attitude when tired? When having a bad day?
Explain FISH Philosophy Recognition Activity:
My Brown Paper Bag
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Index cards, post-its, or pieces of paper
Get to know every member of the team
How did you FISH?
Brown paper bag for each person (decorated to their own
personal liking at the beginning of training)
Bags stay within the main large meeting room for training
week
At the end of training
Goal/Objective & Recognition
Memento/Reminder
 Class Activity!!
Part 2: Teambuilding Day – 1st Full Day of Training
 Morning Energizer at Ropes Course Site – run by site personnel
 Reminder of FISH Philosophy Principles and Application for
Teambuilding Day
 Teambuilding Activities at Ropes Course – run by site personnel
 Lunch in Between Activities
 Travel Back to Campus & Dinner
Part 3: Debriefing & Evaluation Session – Same Day After Dinner
 Facilitate Discussion About Day and How FISH Was Applied
 Give Staff Opportunities to Share How Team Exhibited FISH:
Prompt Questions:
1. How did you or someone else demonstrate the FISH Philosophy principle
“Be There”?
2. How did you or someone else demonstrate the FISH Philosophy principle
“Play”?
3. How did you or someone else demonstrate the FISH Philosophy principle
“Make Their Day”?
4. How did you or someone else demonstrate the FISH Philosophy principle
“Choose Your Attitude”?
Part 3: Debriefing & Evaluation Session – Same Day After Dinner
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Facilitate Discussion About How FISH Can Be Applied Throughout Year
Prompt Questions:
1. How can we apply the FISH Philosophy principle “Be There” throughout the year?
2. How can we apply the FISH Philosophy principle “Play” throughout the year?
3. How can we apply the FISH Philosophy principle “Make Their Day” throughout the year?
4. How can we apply the FISH Philosophy principle “Choose Your Attitude” throughout the year?
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How FISH Has Been Previously Applied Without Knowing
1. Returning staff: What are some ways you have applied FISH in the past without even knowing
about the Philosophy?
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Evaluation of Three-Part FISH Session (See Evaluation Plan section)
Available Resources
 Rider University spaces - Cavalla Room
 Training Opening Session and Debriefing &
Evaluation Session
 Dinner will be held in the Daly’s Dining Hall
 Technology needs: projector, screen, and laptop
 Tables and chairs for sessions
Needed Resources
 Proposed Budget (Estimate):
Evaluation Plan
 All staff members
- evaluation
(survey)
 Data collected
during debriefing
session
Appendices
Interview with Misty Denham-Barrett
Residence Director of Hill Hall
Organizational Leadership Graduate
Student
Rider University
Interview with JJ Duke
2nd Year Resident Advisor in
Ziegler/New Residence Halls Junior
Communications Studies Student
Rider University
Interview Questions:
What do you think of the teambuilding that
happens at Summer RA Training?
Would you change anything about it? If so, what?
How do you feel about your individual building’s
RA Staff as far as it being a well-built and
maintained team? How about the RA staff as a
whole? How do you think the two separate teams
are the way they are?
Are you familiar with the FISH Philosophy? If,
not, let me tell you about it. Now that you know a
little about the FISH Philosophy, do you think we
use it already?
How do you think we can use it more?
References
 Blimling, G. (1999). The resident assistant: Applications and strategies for working with
college students in residence halls (5th ed.). Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing
Company.
 Charthouse Learning (2011). Welcome to the official home of the Fish! Philosophy.
Retrieved from http://www. charthouse.com/content.aspx?nodeid=22610.
 Lundin, S. C., Paul, H, & Christensen, J. (2000). Fish!: A remarkable way to boost
morale and improve results. New York, NY: Hyperion.
 Salt & Light Retreat Resource Manual. Retrieved from http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/prs/
campus-inistry/saltandlight/Retreat%20Resource%20Manual/Fun%20Large%20
Group%20Ice%20Breakers.html.
 Team Holiday (2006). Team building: Why is it so important? Retrieved from
http://www.teamholiday.co.uk/articles/team-building-why-is-it-so-important-84.html.
Take a leap and please consider
Making Waves in Residence Life:
The FISH! Philosophy Going to Work in Student Affairs