Skip to main content

Customer Service is a Way of Being


Customer service is a way of being and not simply a way of doing.  It stems from a servant's heart in my opinion.  

Think about it.  

The people that I would hold up as a standard of customer service are also the most unselfish, serving and humble and positive people I know.  People who go above and beyond the call of duty and who put other people and their needs in front of themselves.

A discussion on our local radio station prompted this train of thought this afternoon. 

So if I were queen of my town and in charge of economic development, commerce, marketing and city management I would do the following.

Assembly a team of doers.  Real people who live, breath and do service in our community.  Those who live it.  I would pick the front line people, buy them a nice supper and brainstorm.

I would ask their beliefs about people and service.  Make a list of their mentors, coaches and friends whom they have learned from and invite them to the second meeting.

Next, I would assign to them the job of affecting community service within and throughout our community culture.

Want to know the pulse of the community and what is right and wrong?  In order to develop a right analysis draw from those folks in our communities who see all aspects of our culture.  Rich, poor, educated, troubled, up and coming and down and out; they get to know them all.

I have lived in my community for 14 years now and I can still remember the people who made us feel like this is where we belong and still have great influence in our lives.  They are still the wisest people I know.

Our church elders. Joe Dunn, Ruth Knaub, Carmen Brand
Our neighbors-who helped us in so many ways those first days. Ron Wolvin, Larry Pierce, Mary Duggan, Scott Campbell...
The children's librarian who helped us get library cards.
The city receptionist.
The Gas and Electricity Receptionist.
The gas station attendant.
The clinic receptionist-Lisa.
The banker-Kerri.
The Mom-Melanie.
The school secretary-Deb.  She met with me every first day of school as my mentor and friend.
The grocery store-Deb and Evelyn.
The pharmacist.
The Doctor-Traci, Dr. Byrd.
 The Teacher-Mrs. McBride 
The Coach
The Flower Shop-Ann
The Police Officer who brought home Buster-Dave.
The Tripper Driver-Carol.  Who assured me the first time my children rode it.
The janitor.

Everyone is ringing their hands and asking "how" to make people provide good customer service.  What class?  What skills are needed?  

Truly, we just need to do it.  Need the leaders in our communities, schools and churches learning from our front line folks.

Need those who shop in our community to point out and encourage those who serve us in such a humble way.  To appreciate those all around us who do go above and beyond.  A simple gesture, eye contact, listening ear and a thank you can change the world.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Starting a Journey

September 3, 2010 Originally posted How to Begin a Journey 1. Pick a destination or simply start. 2. Plan a detailed itinerary or just take the first step. 3. Pack everything or travel lightly. I am choosing to just begin. To leave behind the baggage, pick up a day pack, and go. Several nights before we moved to Ogallala, I was praying about the transition when I heard that still, small voice of God. In that moment, I knew He heard my Heart's Cry. He hears every whispered plea, every unspoken longing. If I truly sit with that truth, it humbles me. What courage, boldness, passion, and decisiveness I have when I remember: He never leaves or forsakes me. He provides for my every need according to His riches in glory. My hope is to encourage you He hears your Heart's Cry too.
2 comments
Read more

1940 Canned Apple Butter: Family Root Cellar

I loved exploration as a child.  From opening the door and going down the stairs to get something from my Grandma's root cellar or exploring old homesteads while checking cows.  I credit my Mom with teaching us to appreciate those things that represented the people who had gone before us. When I moved with my husband and boys to a house on the family ranch-I began exploring immediately.  This was the house my Aunt and Uncle lived in during my childhood.  My Grandparents had lived there and many other families dating back to 1900 when it was built.   With two little boys in tow, I made my way to the root cellar and found a treasure cove.  Old text books belonging to the original family who had been a teacher, the original medicine cupboard, tools, trash and memorabilia.   I felt like an archeologist sifting through layers of debris representing generations and culture.  And I was.  I hauled truckloads of trash to the dump (some...
4 comments
Read more

Diabetes-Opened to Disease OR Open to Connecting to my Strengths

I've tried living in denial for two years after the big D diagnoses was handed over.  Honestly, I just don't want to talk about it.  Outwardly seemly calm and disconnected from it.  Inwardly terrified. As a plant that is stressed is open to disease, injury and death so to our bodies are.  I opened myself up to this.  Stress, lack of sleep, bad nutrition, overweight and lack of exercise.  For some reason I believed that if I ran fast enough and worked hard enough, I would outrun my family genes.  The tiny room in the back of my brain locked with a key has kept the fear of this disease at bay even though I could hear its screaming when life quieted down. My Aunt died piece by piece to this disease.  First a heart attack and quadruple by-pass.  Then a toe.  Next a foot.  Legs came next along with more heart attacks.  Kidneys shutting down.  She died very young. When I was little, my Aunt Ally gave herself s...
4 comments
Read more