OK, here it comes, I am about to tell you something you know already — Little stuff delivered well by your service team can create loyal customers. Whew, there I said it. Why? Because recent experiences reminded me of the power of “the simple.”
My daughter and I were shopping at Nordstrom for a pair of shoes. They were actually flip flops for her and priced much higher than we normally purchase. The saleswoman was classic Nordstrom. She found the right size in the right color in the back. My daughter was questioning if this was the right size and after slipping them on, the saleswoman gave her a thumbs up stamp of approval. Here’s what I loved, – while I was signing the receipt, she looked at my daughter and asked, “Did you thank your Mom?” She did it in a very fun but motherly way. It was all very fitting and appropriate to her personality. It was a simple thing that worked well. Customer service combined with mothering is a good thing.
This next experience was at a Hyatt Place Hotel. While getting ready to speak at a client’s team meeting, I needed to request an item from the staff. I ventured into the front desk area. The front desk team was quite busy so I wandered into the breakfast area where I was approached by Damian, part of the wait staff. I had not made eye contact with him, Damian just “saw” I needed help and asked what could he do for me. I love a proactive team member vs. the one who intentionally does not “see” the customer in need. Again, simple works.
At your next team meeting, discuss how the little, simple stuff can enhance the customer experience.
– Good manners
– Anticipating the need
– Thanking the customer for waiting or holding
– Following up as promised
– Calling to update on progress
– Using the customer’s name
– Ending the interaction with a sincere thank you
In my presentations, I speak about creating great customer experiences. However, I believe the simple stuff is required as the foundation of customer service. That foundation creates an experience that is both valued and trusted by your customer.
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Lisa Ford is a speaker with over 20 years of experience presenting to businesses, associations and government. She speaks throughout the United States and internationally on topics of customer service, leadership, team issues and change. Her recent book is Exceptional Customer Service – Exceed Customer Expectations to Build Loyalty and Boost Profits.
This article was originally published on Lisa’s Customer Service Blog, where you can read more articles by Lisa Ford.
