Service Tip: Stop Cutting Corners in Conversation

We had a staff lunch a few weeks ago. Our hostess had so much experience she was able to take the whole interaction down to three words. "For Four? Menus? Coffee?" And she was gone. Sure, we got the meaning of each question but, "For four?" is not the same as “Hi, how are you today? Are there four people in your party?”. By shortening the interaction and the number of words it may not lose the meaning (it does to some) but it certainly loses the hospitality.

Make sure that everyone in your call center, service center or client relations has the ability to use full sentences to clearly outline a question, an answer and a solution. It is a way to create better clarity but also more hospitality.

Service Tip: It's My Pleasure!

When did "No problem" become the acceptable response to helping someone out? It suggests that normally things are a problem but in this case it is "no problem". The Ritz Carlton has it right when everyone in their organization helps out and then responds, "My pleasure Sir/Madam." They know that the simple change of words means that each customer feels more valued, deserving and respected. It is never an effort to help at the Ritz. It is the reason they are there and it is always a pleasure to help.

How different an experience can be and the spirit of service when your team starts to respond to customers, "It was my pleasure!"