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We are more the same than different
/in Ideas to help you build a solid team/by Tom DoescherI’ve had the privilege of interacting with people of almost every color, language, culture, and social status on six continents. My personal conclusion is that the people of the world are more alike than different. For example, children are important to parents from all walks of life and in every culture. I believe that, too often, we let form over substance — not to mention busyness — get in the way of developing relationships with co-workers. Most companies today have some type of global activity. Do your associates respect each other’s differences and embrace them? What programs do you have in place that assist in building a greater understanding of diversity of all types? I believe this leads to improvements in your company’s bottom line and associates who are more satisfied with their work environment.
Perspective helps
/in Ideas to help you build a solid team/by Tom DoescherI was in a meeting one day, listening to all the problems resulting from the sudden growth of a business. As the conversation continued, many of the comments and observations became quite negative. You would have thought the company was having a bad year. During a pause in the discussion, I mentioned that in my experience, whether you are doing really well or performing poorly, there are always problems. I shared that I have decided it is a lot better to deal with problems during the good times. This seemed to change the mood of the team for the better. Do you keep a pulse on the perspectives of your team?
Intimate customer service
/in Extraordinary Customer/Client Service/by Tom DoescherWe have all experienced intimate customer service, like you expect to receive at the Ritz-Carlton? When business owners lose firsthand contact with their customers, the goal of providing intimate service often suffers. A few years ago, my wife and I hired a well-known landscaping service. Despite their quality reputation, it seemed my wife soon had a part-time job communicating our desires to a rotating stream of workers. We finally switched to an owner-operated team — mom, dad, sister, and brother. If we have an important need or request, we can contact them via cell phone, and they respond promptly. Are you confident your associates take care of your customer’s needs the same way you do, as the owner?