| What does an aquarium have to do with the status | | | | and collected in this little community - no tension, and |
| quo and a new hire? More than you think. Read on | | | | all the pairs were in their places. |
| and see how an experience in ignoring the rules of | | | | We came to the conclusion that our hard earned |
| good aquarium management resulted in a lesson that | | | | zebra fish - all alone because we lacked the patience |
| has much broader application. | | | | to wait until we had the money for a pair, and |
| What does an aquarium have to do with the status | | | | introduced with little preparation because we had not |
| quo and a new hire? More than you think. Read on | | | | taken the time to introduce him properly, had been |
| and see how an experience in ignoring the rules of | | | | eaten by the other fish in the aquarium. That was |
| good aquarium management resulted in a lesson that | | | | the only possible explanation for his disappearance. |
| has much broader application. | | | | See any similarities to what so often happens in |
| At 12 years old, I was a partner in an aquarium. Four | | | | business situations? We spend all our time and energy |
| of us owned it and the fish and plants that inhabited | | | | on the acquisition of a person, we want them to |
| it. We got the money to buy new fish by scavenging | | | | shake things up, we're eager to have that happen, |
| 5 cent deposit beverage bottles. We'd gather the | | | | so we just drop them in the tank! And they get |
| bottles, cash them in and go to the aquarium dealer | | | | eaten figuratively - by the status quo. |
| and buy fish. | | | | The purpose of this story is to suggest you spend at |
| We had developed a pretty good collection of | | | | least as much time and effort in the assimilation of |
| Gouramis, Angelfish. Mollys and Neon Tetras, along | | | | people as you do in the acquistion of people. Spend |
| with the necessary catfish and plants to make our | | | | time with the new person, and with the people who |
| freshwater aquarium look good, provide cover, and | | | | will be part of the environment that the new person |
| yet remain uncrowded. | | | | will have to live, survive and succeed in. Build the |
| The one thing we had done was always buy two | | | | bridges of understanding and expectations that will |
| fish of the same kind. But one Saturday we went | | | | allow the workgroup to be successful in accepting |
| looking for bottles pickings were scarce and we | | | | the newcomer. If you just parachute them in sink |
| only found enough to get money for one fish. We | | | | or swim you do so at your own peril. Make sure |
| really wanted to add zebra fish to our collection, so | | | | the success of people that are hired is a goal of the |
| we bought just one fish - even though the dealer | | | | hiring manager, and make sure he or she understands |
| advised against it - and brought it home. | | | | their own performance will be measured on the basis |
| We introduced our new fish with little fanfare - we | | | | of how well their hires succeed |
| simply dropped it into the tank. All the other pairs had | | | | Create a structure for followup that ensures the new |
| been put into the aquarium in their plastic bags for a | | | | person has regular contact with their manager - a |
| few hours in order to let the community get to | | | | structure that communicates expectations to the |
| know them. We were tired from scavenging bottles, | | | | hiring manager for how they are to develop the new |
| it was getting late, and we were in a hurry to see | | | | person. |
| how our zebra fish looked in the aquarium. | | | | If you accept the attitude that every new selection, |
| Our zebra fish darted around and showed a lot of | | | | be it a hire, promotion or transfer, represents an |
| energy just what we wanted to liven up the | | | | opportunity to improve your organization, and you |
| aquarium. We noticed that all the other fish seemed | | | | follow that attitude, you will see a much higher |
| to get a little tense with this new fish buzzing around | | | | proportion of successful selections from both a |
| the aquarium, but none attacked him and we felt | | | | retention and contribution standpoint. |
| that everything would settle down overnight. We put | | | | I wish we'd used that process with our zebra fish. As |
| the cover on the aquarium, and went to bed. | | | | it turned out our aquarium never did get another fish |
| The next day we checked on our aquarium, and the | | | | our little fish community liked things just the way |
| zebra fish was gone! The cover was still on, and it | | | | they were and we didn't want to mess with the |
| was heavy glass that could not be moved by a fish. | | | | status quo. Plus, our unsuccessful experience with the |
| We had no other pets at the time, and the house | | | | zebra fish made it difficult to work up any |
| was free of rats and rodents. What we did notice | | | | enthusiasm for trying again. |
| was that the other fish in the aquarium had returned | | | | Sound familiar? . |
| to their pre-zebra demeanor - everything was calm | | | | |