LeaderFiSH! Video

Rating ***** (3 out of 5)

Initial Thoughts
LeaderFiSH! isn't just a video, it's a little management workshop. It follows the stories of actual managers who share their experiences leading their teams to success. It could possibly work with out the FiSH! Video, but it's clearly part of the same series and no one who hasn't watched FiSH! will understand why the owner of a fish stand in Seattle is an authority on Leadership and Team Building.

The Pros
First, I'm a big fan of unit-based learning and this program does an excellent job of breaking up their training into 6 different areas with supporting material for each. I've been to some great training sessions and conferences where I learn SO much that I can't really apply it all before it's forgotten. Separating each point out into manageable chunks is a GREAT way to address this problem- and it also makes it a lot easier on a manager who may not have DAYS or HOURS to devote to personal development.

The production is pretty good and the team did a good job editing each interview. I think that documentary-style training is pretty popular because it takes people "just like us" and makes them the stars instead of actors. So, there's a good peer feeling to this show- managers and leaders will feel like they're engaging with other people like them.

The Cons
Documentary-style training has one major flaw; you have to rely on the points that other people make instead of creating your own. While there's some pretty good thoughts here, none of them are revolutionary. None of them are really very new and different. So, while they're all good tips, they may not pack the kind of punch that one would hope for.

Also, each video is a little longer than I would like. About 2-3 minutes before each of them ends, I'm ready for them to be over. Trimming off that excess would make it a little more enjoyable and give the manager the time to really think about how he/she is going to apply each thought to their lives.

Who Would Want It
LeaderFiSH! is a film for managers who have a pretty good attention span and enough time to really think through the ancillary materials.

The Bottom Line
There's nothing revolutionary about the LeaderFiSH! Video. It's informative and interesting, but the booklet is really where it become personal. Without that piece, the learning points are ambiguous and become muddled together. If each unit were a few minutes shorter with instructions to fill in the personal guide I think it might get an extra star.