The Greeter Desk

The other day, I went into a bank and there was a counter at the entrance where there was a greeter who asked me why I was there.

I explained what I wanted to do and he said, “I can help you with that.”

And I thought, great.

He said, “Do you have a cellphone?” I said, “Yes”, and he shoved this laminated sheet across the desk and it had a code on it and he said, “just scan this with your phone.”

And I said, “What’s this for?”

And he said, “to make an appointment”, and I said, “you just told me that you can help me, and we’re talking, so isn’t this the appointment?”

And he said “oh you know, it’s just a process we use, so I just need you to scan this”, and I said “we’re already talking, we’re already having the appointment… I think we’re past the making of the appointment, this is the appointment!”

Needless to say, this just sort of went sideways from there and a manager who overheard the conversation came over and helped me right away and two minutes later I was on my way.

I guess it’s a lesson that when people put process before human beings, look around in that organization for someone who puts people first. If you don’t find that person, go somewhere where they do.