CUSTOMER SERVICE STARTS AT HOME

It is important to remember that good customer service starts with employees that are happy to serve customer. Take care of your employees and they will take care of you. Make sure their needs are met and do what you can to create a workplace free from negativity and full of motivation and recognition for creativity. Happy employees love their job and it shows when they provide a service or product to your customers.

TIME’S UP!

If an idea, plan, or strategy is not working, bring it to an end. So often, managers are faced with realization that perhaps system which was put in place to increase customer service is not going to produce positive results after all. Still, they are reluctant to drop curtain due to pride or hoping that with just a little more time plan could still be effective. Forget it. If it’s not working, move on to something else. Shut it down and start something else. There is no use in wasting customers’ time and business in hope that whatever method is being used will eventually work out. Out with old, in with new is good advice.

Above all, remember that customer service is single most important thing to consider in your business, second only to taking care of your employees. Be willing to be flexible and get involved in process of customer service in any way possible, no matter how high on food chain you are. Not only will this serve as a good example to your employees but it will increase level of service that your customers receive.

Myron Curry is President and CEO of BusinessTrainingMedia.com a leading corporate training and development company based in Encino, California. Myron has over 20 years of successful management experience with leading fortune 500 companies and has written numerous articles. You can contact Myron at: myron@business-marketing.com or visit his company's website http://www.businesstrainingmedia.com

Other on-going ‘myths' surrounding senior level decision makers:

I'll never get by screener to gain an appointment. These people have more important things to do. These are smart people with Yale or Harvard MBA's. Most high-level decision makers hate salespeople. Successful sales people I know don't buy-into these or other myths. Remember, that high-level decision makers did not reach top by being aloof. Many organizations promote from within and these top people usually recognize importance of meeting with key decision makers. Besides, in today's business, most organizations are flatter making key decision maker more accessible. However, bottom line for any solid sales approach is to bring something of value to high-level decision maker - this will ensure you will always get their attention.

Working and connecting with high-level decision makers takes a practice and a willingness to plan your sales call. Recognize that you must understand how high-level decision makers operate. Typically, they are more direct. No long-winded chat-chat for these guys. They like to control meetings and are more strategic in their thinking and decision making. Something that may take lower-level contact months to decide may be acted on immediately by high-level decision maker. They take measured risks and make calculated decisions, so don't waste their time by presenting canned presentations, or lack an understanding of their business -- usually these high-level decision makers are looking for you to make a difference in their business, not just make a deal.

As a young salesman, a person I came to respect gave me some sage advice -- "begin as you mean to continue". Have your salespeople start at top. Your business will achieve more and your competitors will envy you.

Frank Williams is a marketer. With many post graduate courses in management, leadership, marketing and technology to his credit, Williams is a widely respected speaker, author and technologist. He has significant knowledge in marketing strategies and is the founder and CEO of Global Marketing, Inc. - a leader in business, marketing and sales consulting

Other valuable articles can be found at: http://members.cox.net/glmarketing/glmarketing/index.htm