I’ve heard it said “business goes where it is invited but stays where it’s appreciated.”
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make, particularly these days, is taking their current customers for granted. Even if you think your “customer” is the colleague you provide service for in the office, this fundamental principle still holds true.
You see, it really isn’t about customer service. It is about customer appreciation.
In what ways do you show your customers that you appreciate their business? Do you even know what they think is important, or do you even care!?
No doubt you have first-hand experience of being considered just a number. You know what it’s like to be pushed aside simply for your money or other resource. And you know exactly how it feels to be taken for granted. Sucks, doesn’t it?
Action – Set up a customer appreciation system that reflects your specific customers. And stop viewing people as simply being the tickets to your success.
Customer Appreciation has gotten terrible over the years. I feel it is very important to keep a positive working relationship with all customers, even if sometimes people don’t, there may be other things going on and you just happen to be the person they are releasing it on.
Nancy,
I couldn’t agree more. Most people take their customers for granted, especially when business is going well. I always, always tend to keep in mind that being service-focused, humble and greatfull in a positive and spontaneous manner to your client. Letting them know they are being appreciated. It is very sad that most managers don’t mind you focussing on this, when business is going well.
Not only external customers, but the internal ones as well – the employees. If the employees feel appreciated then they are more likely to be engaged which means external customer satisfaction will be higher. Happy people like to make others happy. A business that has a terrible culture where employees are beat down and a “it’s never good enough” mentality will never be able to sustain external customer satisfaction.
I agreed, happy employees always translate to happy customers, that’s why I’m so grateful of been working here in Park Tower.