The Happy Curmudgeon
Many businesses ultimately have succeeded or failed as a result of this tale, which tells of a train stranded on a mountain by an engine failure. Larger engines refuse for numerous reasons to help; a small engine agrees to try and succeeds in accomplishing this tough task while repeating the words, “I think I can, […]
Through several recessions, I always have found predictability in business. You just compensated for changing economics. Companies spending big bucks and hiring fancy, showhorse firms switched to workhorses and lower budgets. I live in the workhorse world, so it presented opportunities. The current state of affairs has created a condition I’ve never seen in 38 […]
Having lived largely by the seat of my pants for 38 years, I have discovered a variety of survival instincts. One of the most important is the ability to ask for help in business when needed. As guys, we’re generally taught machismo and the importance of always showing strength. In business, this often means talking […]
Heather Wilde, CTO at Roceteer, wrote an article in Inc. Magazine entitled, “What Working at a Call Center Taught Me About Customer Service…The customer may not always be right, but you can certainly treat them better.” The essence of her advice to customer service departments and reps is to act more like caring, concerned moms […]
Mom and pop customer service traits—most notably doing business with companies you like, respect and trust—are surfacing everywhere as drivers of loyalty and the bottom line. To make it work, companies must invest time, resources and, yes, money.
As companies grow bigger and more global, customer service in many quarters is feeling more like dealing with a caring mom and pop enterprise than a mega-company. That’s clearly the attitude of such companies as Costco, which has been making me feel right at home since 1999. (Full disclosure: I’m an unabashed, biased Costcophile with […]
Amid COVID-19, mask wearing has become a huge political football. As a matter of common sense and exercising critical thinking skills, wearing a mask is not about politics. It’s about our health collectively, and about showing respect for the health of others. Period.
Robust employee training benefits all customers and preferences by improving overall productivity, performance and attitude. Its positive impact cuts across all political, economic and social lines. Better-trained employees serve customers better—so it’s a lowest-common-denominator area that companies should address regardless of other polices and protocols.
Customer service isn’t one-size-fits-all. While there are some policies that merit universal application, such as listening to and acting upon customer concerns in a caring and substantive way, preferences can vary considerably. What do companies do to best identify what most customers want and expect, understanding that not everyone will be happy? In the words […]
Centuries ago, the customer service “universe” existed of how far you could walk to do business. While choices were fewer, so were complications. Today, customer service challenges exist across the globe. When the company and customer base are relatively small, ability to be agile and make improvements quickly can be fairly robust. In part […]
