The things we learned in Kindgergarten

Full disclosure here...I didn't attend kindergarten, but I was lucky enough to have parents who taught me these things anyway.

Numerous books and articles highlight the things we learned as children, and how important it is to use them everyday when dealing with your customers. However, spend a day going shopping and out to lunch and you will find that there are a number of people who did not read the books and articles, so let's have a refresher.

In kindergarten, we learned to say please and thank you, say hello and goodbye. We learned proper manners, to smile, and to be nice. The question you need to be asking yourself as a manager or business owner is, “are your people following through with those simple gestures?”

If they are, good for you...if they are not, you have a problem.

I am amazed how many times I go into a store and instead of a warm greeting; I am ignored. One store in particular, I had to wait until the two people behind the counter finished their conversation about the weekend before I was waited on.....I still didn't get a greeting...just a stare and they waited for me to start the conversation.

Don't get me wrong, it's not important that it was me...it is important because I am a customer. Customers spend money….employees will end up with some of that money in their paychecks. The more customers, the better the chance the paycheck has of growing.

Bottom line... how are your customers being treated? Do you only judge your employees performance when you are around? If so, what are the odds that your staff acts differently when you are not around? Do you have a secret shopper (s) set up?

Everything you do for your business comes down to the moment the customer comes into the store...make them feel good and you will be surprised how well your business will do. Treat them as an interruption...you will be saying things such as...my advertising doesn't work or the chamber is not getting the people here or some other excuse.

By the way, if you do have employees that make your customers feel special, you had better take care of them -- they are becoming a minority. Have a great day...it's the best one God will give you today.

LOOKOUT SALES PITCH: I have developed a customer service talk that teaches your employees, in a broad sense, about the history of the area and at the same time talks about better customer service. If you are interested, contact me at passionatelyspeaking@centurytel.net

Have you got to the root of the problem?

So this weekend, I was doing some brush clearing. Not manly man brush clearing, where you feel the power and sound of a chainsaw....no this was the smaller stuff.



The kind of stuff that wraps itself around a fence...and instead of a manly chainsaw, you have to hold trimming shears, or clippers, or whatever you might call them....they are not intimidating, but they get the job done. It was the kind of trimming where you might have to work through the limbs and leaves to get to the root of the brush, but once you get to the root, one cut shows a great deal of progress.



As I was working, I realized that clearing this kind of brush and life have a lot in common. Sometimes we have to work out a problem step by step...but if we are consistent and dedicated, we eventually get to the root of the problem and we make big progress with one change.



Whatever the problem, whatever the challenge, small consistent change will eventually help you find the root and once there -- success is sure to follow. Remember, life is full of challenges -- how we handle those challenges will determine what kind of success we can enjoy. Not all problems can be solved with a chain saw -- some need a more delicate tool, dedication, and determination.



Have you seen my speaking video? Go to http://www.bransonbusiness.blogspot.com/