The Grove - I'm Here at The Grove, a retail snack company, we definitely understand a “fast-paced” business environment. We work in over 60 stores, at 17 locations nationwide, primarily in airports. So, when we stand across the counter from a customer, there is usually either a sense of urgency or a look of exhaustion in their eyes. Since our mission focuses on providing our customers with a healthy, delicious snack and exceptional care, and because travel has changed so dramatically in the past several years, we’d been ardently working on our connection with our clients, but had forgotten about ourselves.

It had been about 4 years since our team had gathered, since the timing never seemed to be right to shift our focus from the “mission critical” business at hand. Finally we decided that we have to make the time… mostly because the employees deserved it; “a big hug”, a “thank you”, and a refreshing experience that would motivate them and make them feel appreciated. It was time to rally up the troops, and put a game plan together, refocus, regroup, rejuvenate and inspire each other.

We are a team of very dedicated and diverse employees, and there is power in recognizing the value that each of us brings to work every day; that we need gratitude, attention, and perhaps to polish our skills. Our goal for the entire meeting was to offer different opportunities for the management team to become better communicators, leaders, developers, trainers, and coaches… So, we asked for some help…Deena Ebbert and the FISH! Philosophy!!!
Honestly, about 2 or 3 months previous to the scheduled meeting date, I found myself spending late nights at home on my computer searching websites for corporate motivational gurus. I knew that this meeting needed a huge lift, an expert, creative and different, yet personable and customized for our business. When I came across ChartHouse’s FISH! Speakers I knew my quest was over!

I’d always felt FISH! was a great fit for inspiring employees to have fun in the workplace. After all, that’s to what I personally attribute my success at The Grove. Over my 18 years here, I have grown into a position within the company as a source of enthusiasm through operational training and motivating employees. It was time to spread the excitement and invite the management team to share in the joy.

Pre-FISH!, we invited each attendee to be a recipient of enthusiasm, instruction, inspiration, and information to perform our daily responsibilities with excellence and fun. And at our meeting, we did it!!! Our group needed the “human touch” and Deena’s careful and artistic messages aroused the sleeping giants within us with a kaleidoscope of emotions. Especially when she shared her personal story about her father; it touched us all. She has a unique ability to align the human aspect of life to the choices we make everyday at work and home with confidence and satisfaction. The event was an awakening of our abilities to use the simple and basic principles of love and life, and not be afraid to bring them into the workplace.

The results at The Grove were immediate. As soon as the presentation began we became a clear and focused group. The response afterward was awesome! The feedback came back unanimously that our FISH! Philosophy Event, and what we’ve created since that day have been THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED AT THE GROVE!

Since our meeting, our corporate and management staff has developed better communication skills, action plans, and problem-solving techniques. We’ve invented “Grove University” where we not only learn, but question, provoke, and discover fresh new ideas for our organization through question and answer conversations. We reward contributors whose ideas create the memorable experiences that change the way people feel about being in airports, and that generate higher sales. We “Playstorm” ways to look at our work differently. Most importantly, our attitudes have changed, allowing us to become much more eager to praise and thank each other in the workplace.

ChartHouse offers Corporate America a chance to get back to the basics of working with people, for people, to please people and have FUN doing it. ChartHouse gets IT!...and now The Grove gets IT! Thanks again!

Mary Schoenhoff, The Grove Inc. www.grovesnacks.com