What are "Fishelisms"?

"Fishelisms" are career success principles developed by Brian Fishel, CHRO at KeyBank. They serve as memorable and practical guides for leaders and professionals in any industry looking to advance their careers.

How does Brian Fishel advise leaders to manage talent?

He advises leaders to set high but clear expectations, deliver frequent and meaningful praise for good work, and create a sense of urgency to help employees stretch their potential.

What does it mean to demonstrate a strong work ethic, according to Fishel?

Demonstrating a strong work ethic involves showing initiative and productivity, delivering high-quality work on time, and excelling in your current role before asking for more responsibility.

Why is lifelong learning a key part of Fishel-s philosophy?

Lifelong learning is critical because it is a holistic process that goes beyond accumulating knowledge. Fishel believes the most valuable lessons come from a wide range of experiences, including doing, failing, observing, and listening.

Career Success Principles to Propel Your Career

Q: What are the five main themes of Fishelisms?

The five themes of Fishelisms are: 1) Be purposeful, 2) Be curious and inquisitive, 3) Demonstrate a strong work ethic, 4) Demonstrate strong teamwork, and 5) Never avoid opportunity.

The Leadership Philosophy of a Top CHRO

Brian Fishel, CHRO at KeyBank, has developed a set of memorable career truths, or “Fishelisms,” that have guided his colleagues and teams through periods of significant change. While born from the financial industry, these principles are applicable to any professional seeking career success.

Fishel's approach to leadership is built on several core practices:

Clear Expectations: He sets high but unambiguous expectations for talent, ensuring executive and HR teams have a shared understanding of each role's responsibilities.
Meaningful Praise: He delivers frequent and explicit praise, recognizing specific behaviors and outputs to reinforce their importance.
Effective Feedback: He expects all team members to set aside personal agendas to offer open and constructive feedback.
A Sense of Urgency: Leaders are tasked with creating passion and a high bar to help employees stretch their potential and achieve more.

The 5 Themes of Fishelisms

Fishel's career principles are grouped into five key themes that provide a framework for professional growth.

1. Be Purposeful

Always be prepared; never just “wing it.”
Leverage your network and surround yourself with people who complement your skills.
Be fully present and engaged in the moment.
Act as an "Energy Driver," not an "Energy Drainer."
Consider the legacy you want to leave behind.

2. Be Curious and Inquisitive

Become a voracious learner from all experiences, good and bad.
Be a keen observer and a student of others' behavior.
Ask insightful questions and listen intently.
Seek to understand the "why" behind decisions, not just the "what."
Consistently challenge assumptions and predispositions.

3. Demonstrate a Strong Work Ethic

Understand that a strong work ethic is always noticed.
Show initiative and focus on execution to deliver thorough, thoughtful, and accurate work on time.
Excel in your current role before asking for more responsibility.

4. Demonstrate Strong Teamwork

Collaborate with peers rather than competing with them.
Channel competitiveness toward collective problem-solving.
Give credit to others and avoid seeking the limelight.
Refrain from gossip and focus on your own performance.

5. Never Avoid Opportunity

Answer the door when opportunity knocks.
View every task—even one you consider beneath you—as a moment to learn, grow, and connect.
Approach new opportunities with energy, positivity, and a "yes" mindset.

Paying It Forward Through Lifelong Learning

For Brian Fishel, success is rooted in a commitment to lifelong learning. This goes beyond simply acquiring more knowledge; it is a holistic process. He emphasizes that the most valuable lessons are learned from doing, acting, failing, reaching, observing, and listening. By embracing this mindset, professionals can ensure continuous growth and pay their success forward.

Best Practice Institute

Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

The Workplace Report

The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.

Fishelisms Can Propel Your Career Success