There's a new show on television called Now Who's the Boss?, in which the president or CEO of a major company leaves his corporate digs and takes over some of the jobs of his employees.

In a recent episode, the CEO of a large hotel chain became a chambermaid for a day. During his shift, he was expected to clean 14 rooms, meaning that it should take him about a half hour to clean each room. It took a lot longer: He spent more than three hours to do one room—and it wasn't even up to accepted standards.

Later in the show, he met with his top staff and told them the job was tougher than he thought it would be and that he had gained a better appreciation of just what his employees were up against each day. He instituted several changes, and told his direct reports that he wanted them to take over a hotel job one day a year.

Powerful stuff. It got me thinking about distribution management. Would you consider exchanging your job for a day, to find out the challenges and opportunities your employees are up against?

Just think, for example, how you, as a business owner/manager, would do in taking over an inside salesperson's job for a day.

Or maybe just take a day and become an outside salesperson. Remember what it was like when you were on the road? Are your salespeople making the required number of calls? What about their territories? You could learn a lot. Even more importantly, it would create a great impression on your customer to have the top guy in the company calling on him.

How about working in the warehouse? Could your shipping and receiving area be improved to create new efficiencies? Do you need a warehouse management system? Is your equipment obsolete?

All too often, managers only talk to themselves. They sit in their offices, make decisions and are unaware of the effects they will have on those who will be directly impacted.

Several years ago, I visited a manufacturer in Chicago that had begun a monthly program in which employees could submit ideas to improve productivity. The best idea of the month received a $50 gift certificate.

One suggestion led to the company saving more than $25,000 a year, and simply involved a slight modification to the warehouse area. Listening to those who are closest to a problem often can provide the best solution for solving it. It only makes sense.

jkeough@reedbusiness.com