What happens when you take a corporate COO and put him or her in the shoes of their line workers? Genius. That’s precisely what this television show has done, called Undercover Boss. In the show they ask COOs and CEOs to step in the shoes of their day-to-day workers to discover what life is really like behind the scenes. This show goes way beyond showing how the workers on the ground do their job- it’s a journey showing how the people who work for a company go over and beyond company expectations to ensure outstanding outcomes for the end customers.

This most recent episode really moved me. It moved me enough that I decided to blog about it. It followed Rick L. Arquilla, COO of Roto-Rooter, as he worked unclogging bathtubs and toilets in New Orleans and yes, even Des Moines! So, take a break from working in your business, and step back to watch this video (I promise it’s worth it!). Please watch and post your comments about your thoughts. Were you as moved as I was? Are you getting down-and-dirty with your employees to see what it’s like? Are there things that you can do with the power that you possess as their employer to make their life easier and keep them with your company?