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Trainer answers phone

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2005-07-28 04:55:04 - Graham Ellis

It's not usually my job to be answering the telephones - I spend most of my working day standing in front of trainees presenting Python, Perl or PHP subjects to them, and much of the rest of my time discussing their particular uses of the technology with them, or advising them on techniques and issues that arrive during practicals.

But it's fabulous, once in a while, to take over "telephone duty" for a day. It helps me to keep in touch with what's happening at the grass roots and sharp end of the admin and booking functions, even if it surprises the occasional prospective customer that we "risk" letting our tutors speak to customers before they book their courses.

I suggest to anyone in a senior role that they should step into the shoes and role of their team and collleagues just once every so often. It can be a real eye opener. And once they get over the shock it can be a real pleasure for the customers too.