Sunday, October 27, 2013

#513 impromptu


On Friday, we had 14 prospective student visitors in our office.  That's a lot for us in a day -- each one requiring our visit coordinator to set up a tour guide, individual appointment with faculty in their major, a meeting with the coach if the student is a possible athlete and time with an admissions counselor.  With 14 in one day, it involves a lot of juggling and logistics.

About 2pm, a family walked in with a student and her friend -- and no appointment.  They were in town and happened upon our campus and thought they would stop in.  Within 10 minutes, Viv had rounded up a tour guide and while they were seeing campus she set up appointments with a faculty member, someone from athletics and admissions.  She made it all look effortless to the family, but it involved some scheduling heroics.

And it also represented a true sense of our campus to those students.  Even though it was late on a Friday afternoon and they dropped in unannounced, we made them feel special.  We learned their needs and met them.  We were genuinely glad that they stopped in.

Not that I would wish more walk ins on our visit coordinator, but it is a great way for a family to peek behind the curtain and see what an organization is really like.  

How can you create an out-of-the-norm situation to test the mettle of a decision that is important to you?  How would your service measure up in a similar situation?  

Anyone can put on a show.  The real authenticity shines when you need something outside of the script.  

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

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