Welcome to the Fishbowl

You see me and I see you

Can’t hide nothing ’cause it’s all see-through

Don’t be a fool enough to tell a lie

Satellite’s watching up in the sky

And for all the world to know

What we do and where we go

Welcome to the fishbowl 

I first heard these lyrics this year at a Kenny Chesney concert with CeCe. (Yes, she had to remind me who Kenny was on the way to the concert.) Now his song, Welcome to the Fishbowl, is more about our lives today being on display; there’s nowhere to hide. 

In my book, Leading with Significance, I discuss the concept of the fishbowl that we are all in as we join a new team or move up in leadership. The bigger the team or the leadership role, the more people are standing around our fishbowl to see, in the words of Kenny, what we do and where we go. Can’t hide nothing ’cause it’s all see-through. 

Understanding the power of the fishbowl was an eye-opening experience for me.  When I was a candidate for becoming our next CEO, a partner shared with me that I was in a fishbowl, that everyone was watching what I said and what I did.  The advice was to be more open with my communications, share more of my vision so people could understand me and the direction I was headed. It was an eye-opening experience as I realized that seeing is believing, and it helped me with my blind spot that others could see, yet I had no idea.   

So, what’s the big takeaway from this fishbowl business? Well, it’s simple (and a little terrifying): people are always watching. Whether you’re leading a team, joining one, or just trying not to drown, your actions are under the microscope. The key is to stay consistent — what you say and what you do need to match, because that’s how trust is built. Authenticity isn’t just the latest buzzword; it’s the secret sauce that keeps people believing in you.

Be you and help other fish find their bowl. Remember, the best leaders don’t just float — they steer the team with purpose, clarity, and a healthy dose of transparency. Now, go out there and be the kind of fish worth watching!

“If you were to anticipate how strong a company’s culture needs to be to transform and thrive in the future, Joey Havens paints a beautiful horizon in his book Leading with Significance.”   • Daniel Burrus  

Grab your copy of Leading with Significance to find more magnetic insights to help you on your unique journey. 

For more information on my presentations or to access my beBetter blog library go to joeyhavens.com.