Serving or Self-Serving

#FridayFlashback

“It has always been my belief that a man should do his best, regardless of how much he receives for his services, or the number of people he may be serving or the class of people served.” - Napoleon Hill

It has been a bit spotty of late in getting my blog articles out. There are changes on the horizon for me and those have kept me quite busy. So I am working to get back into a regular pattern of writing so stick with me folks.

Today I wanted to ask a couple of questions;

Regarding your business or job
- Is customer service really at the core of your business or simply “lip” service?

Regarding your everyday life
- Do you live in service to others or are you simply living for yourself?

In your business (or job you work at), the time has come to realize that the ability —or inability— to serve customers in a way that is consistent with meeting and exceeding their expectations is the biggest differentiator which separates a successful business from others. The same is true in your personal life. Serving others before self will have a dramatic impact on your life and the lives of those around you.

It is the difference between living life and living your best life.

Now is the time to transform customer service from a one-dimensional, one-directional exchange into a fluid and integral part of your life. There are basic rules for transforming your life and business and it begins with serving others.

Life has a lot to do with the “CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE” you provide.

Remember today is the day you felt a drop of rain splash down on your forehead. Is it time to build that ark, Noah? In other words, today is the day to start making a change.

Elevate “customer service” (serving others) into a front office mission critical strategic imperative. Make it a strategic part of your everyday life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Customer Loyalty

I read an article recently in Executive Travel Magazine that spoke to the idea of why you should care about customer loyalty. It offered eight areas that you should look at when it comes to your customers.

Thinking about customer loyalty is not just a business owners concern but should be a concern of anyone that with people. It could be through your church, your civic organization and even you as an employee should care.

There is a discussion in the article Keeping The Customer, which gives you some points to ponder. It reveals the age-old business 80/20 rule is still valid, not only for business but for most any organization (volunteer or other). This rule says that 80% of your revenue (or volunteerism) is generated by 20% of your customers.

Keeping those 20% loyal and happy is important to the health of your organization. But think of the potential which exists within the other 80%. Don't neglect that other untapped area.

So how do we do this...build customer loyalty. The article provides the following 8 ways;

1. Develop employee loyalty first - customers can tell when your own employees are not happy.

2. Invite customer criticism - it may hurt, but you will learn quite a bit.

3. Increase responsiveness - don't let issues linger, the longer you wait, the more people will leave.

4. Work to win back lost customers - they may have left, but showing you want them and giving them reason to return will go a long way in winning customers back.

5. Equip your front line employees - give them the ability to make decisions, to get a answer up front for the customer.

6. Use multiple channels of service - offering various methods of contact; automated-phone, real-person phone, email, website all with the same level of service wins people over.

7. Protect your most loyal customers - that 80/20 rule, create enhanced service levels for those 20%, protecting your most loyal customers protects 80% of your revenue.

8. Observe your customer's buying behavior - how and why do customers come to you with there business or organization.

The author, Jill Griffin says the key rule of loyalty is, "serve your employees first, so they, in turn, can serve your customers." Loyalty doesn't happen in an instant, it builds over time. Very hard to earn but easy to lose.