This is something which I did frequently in various roles and it was a part of the job which I really enjoyed, not just because of the opportunity to get out and meet the people who make it happen (the people on the front line) but also because it gave me a good indication of what kind if difference I was making (or not as the case may be) as well as a good idea as to which initiatives were working. What site visits also achieve is to give you a feel for how businesses are run which of course you don’t get if you are sat in an ivory tower somewhere. Finally, it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet people and to gain their insights and ideas on the business. I have always tried to be as inclusive as possible as a leader so when the opportunity to take on board new ideas presents itself I try and grab it with both hands.
For the secret of getting the most out of a site visit is how you approach it, I try and be as upbeat and enthusiastic as possible and if I am visiting an outlet for the first time I try to avoid picking faults and also try and be constructive with my feedback. My aim is always to try and leave the people feeling good about themselves regardless of how the visit went.
Finally, it’s my little boys first birthday today. The year really has flown by and it’s been wonderful to see he go from being this tiny little thing to a small person with his own character. It really does seem like no time at all since I got the call from my wife and made my mad dash back to Manchester from Cairo, then calling her from Amsterdam only to hear a baby crying in the background!
Happy birthday Alex!
random outpourings 