Starbucks’ announcement that it would close for three hours on February 26 to retrain about 135,000 in-store employees sent shudders through the thousands of coffee fanatics in the nation. Would java aficionados have to forego their venti-decaf-no foam-double vanilla-light whip-extra caramel-cinnamon on top-espresso frappuccino? Oh, the humanity! While there was a certain amount of panic from loyal customers after the announcement, I think more organizations should try a similar shutdown.

Starbucks’ management indicated that closing and retraining the staff was a way to implement all-new standards for how their beverages are created. A spokesperson stated that in so doing the customer experience will be ratcheted up to new levels of satisfaction. As a follow-up to the three-hour closing, more changes are expected to be unveiled during the next several months.

Consider for a moment if some companies and individuals took a three-hour time-out, or if there were a cessation of some of the more irritating events that constantly bombard us in the media. Let’s examine the benefits of a temporary shutdown. Maybe we too will be able to ratchet up our levels of satisfaction personally and for our customers. For starters:

• Management by walking around.

 …