Kindness and Customer Service

Customer service is not an option. When you think about customer service, do you own your customer or rent your customer? Would your customer go out of his or her way to do business with you? What does this mean exactly?
There really isn't a better or best time to think about our relationships with our customers. When considering these questionable economic times and the competition for the ever-diminishing discretionary dollar, will your organization rise to the top in the mind of your customer? How can you guard yourself from customer attrition and employee turnover?
If these questions cause a moment to stop and ponder, you no longer have to wonder what characteristics the companies that rise above all have in common. Their dedication to values such as kindness in leadership, customer service and community service sets them apart from crowd. Their faithful following will make the extra time and spend the extra gas money to do business with the organization that follows these principles. Here's a thought... try a little kindness.
When was the last time you just called to check-in and say hello or how are you? It is the attention to detail and the dedication to letting your customer know that they are valued that will make a difference. In other words, would your customer continue to do business with you if they had to make an extra effort to do so? Do you make an extra effort for them? Try a little Lagnaippe Service; do something special and see what happens. The little things in life offer the biggest reward.
Dallas Teague Snider, CMP is the Founder of Make Your Best Impression and a Business Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant. She teaches workshops and seminars on business etiquette, customer service and international protocol. Book Dallas to present to your next convention or meeting. She is currently accepting orders for her new book that is a must have for every business professional. Scheduled to be available in February 2009.