Don’t you wish running a public office were like taking care of a fish tank, where one can choose the fish/staff to put in and take away according to one’s desired “team”? Several public managers have accepted that public service is not like caring for an aquarium, but a few insightful ones are starting to realize that it is, in more ways than one. Let us take a look at the following observations:

      The Fishbowl. The fishbowl technique has long been used in training and planning workshops. It is a method wherein two or more groups of people take turns in being external observers and observed subjects, for the purpose of discussing matters for improvement in an organization. The fishbowl technique is obviously patterned after the example of a person observing a fish in a fishbowl.

      Stress Management. Most managers with aquariums at home or in the office admit that the aquarium is a good stress management tool. Watching the serenity of the water and the gracefulness of the fish swimming can silence the soul to a prayerful mood. In times of heavy deadlines, as in budget deliberations, midyear and year-end assessment, and performance appraisal, managers with aquariums get by with less stress and more productivity.

      The de-stressing action of an aquarium does not apply only to the manager but also to the subordinates who get stressed because of the manager. One finds it easier to call a subordinate for conference, fraternal correction, feedforwarding or feedbacking when there is an aquarium. One reason is due to its power to set a peaceful mood; the other is due to its team building qualities.

      Team Building. A cost-effective way to build a team when one does not have the time and money for out-of-town team-building workshops is to start an aquarium community project. The aquarium can serve as a common interest to focus the attention of persons of varied interests to a common goal. When each member of the staff owns a fish, a plant, a motor or a few pebbles in a common aquarium, there is a sense of ownership for the whole project, and this can be easily translated to the other projects that need to be attended to in the organization. The office is a convenient shop to work when one cannot conduct a workshop. After all, work is not a labor when work is a favor.

      Behavior Modification. Some fish species like to be in groups. They have their own barkadas and they can be bullies when in groups. They are like old-timers who stick together to resist change, especially when the new director is young and single, and most of the staff are near retirement and still below salary grade 15.

      One may not be able to teach old dogs new tricks, but older employees are not that difficult to win over new developments in management. They are aggressive towards other species when in groups but are cooperative when regrouped and “forced” to mingle with other fish species.

      There are, of course, a few fighting fish in the organization from time to time. These are the subordinates that are “pa-pogi” by themselves but need to be isolated in the interest of the service.

      Benefits Administration. Feeding the fish is a pleasurable activity when one sees how eager the little mouths are to partake of the blessings. It makes one reflect on how happy the staff shall also be if one can introduce new benefits. It makes one remember that each employee has little mouths to feed at home. Hence, if one cannot think of new benefits, one at least thinks of the best way to ensure that salaries are not delayed.

      Social Responsibility. In setting up an aquarium, one does not mix the big fish with the small ones. In case one does, there is that special attention to protect the small fry from the tyranny of the big fish. People in government do not work for the big fish, although it cannot be denied that we need them. Public managers, especially Career Executive Service Officers and CES Eligibles, have the social responsibility to ensure that whatever they do ultimately benefits the small fry as end client. Persons with this insight should be more than ready for the Salamin ng Paglilingkod. At any rate, this will be a fitting introduction while one waits for his turn. (To be continued)