Blog

Steve

Three Truths of Exceptional Customer Service

Most people don’t choose to deliver poor customer service; they just don’t choose to deliver exceptional customer service. Most are content to simply occupy a customer service role and execute their job functions, blissfully unaware of the opportunities they forfeit daily to demonstrate exceptional customer service behaviors. Awareness is key.

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Steve

Manage customer perception

Increasingly, travelers are reading hotel reviews before deciding where to spend their travel dollars. Research suggests that the average person reads about seven reviews before making a decision (T. Lappas, Stevens Institute of Technology) and 33% of travelers reported changing their hotel booking plans after reading online reviews (Phocuswright). Hotel

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Steve

Service is a principle, not a campaign

This week is Customer Service Week (Oct. 7-11), one week out the year when customers and customer service quality are celebrated. As much as I enjoy and support recognizing customers and service quality, I can’t help but question the superficiality of hanging banners, donning t-shirts and buttons, and ordering pizzas

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Steve

Balancing productivity and customer service quality

Earlier this summer, I was relaxing by the pool at a well-known resort in Las Vegas. Because it was 100° in the shade, from the moment I settled into my lounge chair I was on the lookout for a beverage server. Within a few minutes, the server appeared carrying a

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Steve

The limitations of virtual-reality training

In 2017 I wrote a blog about a partnership between Walmart and Strivr, a company that designs virtual-reality (VR) training. At that time, Walmart was testing VR-enabled learning in 31 of its Training Academies with aspirations to expand the training to 140,000 associates per year. Two years later, according to this recent

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Steve

Surprise and Delight is Not a Strategy

Businesses that employ techniques to “surprise and delight” customers in an attempt to distract them from noticing systemic flaws in value (for price paid) or product or service quality are misguided. To illustrate, there is a large plumbing and HVAC company in my area that has its technicians carry a

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Steve

Being Capable Is Not Enough

Last fall I traveled to Philadelphia to meet up with several colleagues at a downtown hotel. At check-in, I received a room key emblazoned with the image of a specialty cocktail. After pocketing the key, I grabbed my bag, and headed toward the elevators. In the elevator lobby I noticed

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Steve

Inspiring initiative

Two weeks ago we received a late spring snowstorm that left several inches of snow on our back deck. Because my teenage son was hosting a prom after-party that evening, I approached him at 2:30pm and asked, “Why are you gaming? You have pictures at 5:00 and you’re hosting a

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