Real Customer Service

I'm fortunate enough to experience some inspired customer service at two different golf clubs, one in the Midwest and one out west. What they do at those clubs serves as an example for me to follow at our company, LaBov & Beyond Marketing Communications and Training.

Sycamore Hills Golf Club (Ft. Wayne, IN) and Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, AZ) boast of employees who treat the customers as both the "boss" and at the same time a "person." They approach customers with respect and informal, friendly warmth.

My company, candidly, and others may sometimes treat the customer as the boss or as a person, but to do both simultaneously is where the magic lies.

The end result as a customer is you feel that you're listened to and respected and that you actually like the people you're paying to serve you. What more can you ask for?

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com

Rebel at work

Children rebel against their parents, even later on in life. Some of us rebel against society or our church. Others of us rebel against our company and co-workers: Who are you to tell me what to do? Why do I need to listen to you, let alone work with you?

Being a rebel at work rings hollow. What are you fighting for (we know what you're fighting against)? Is the enemy the evil boss or the dominating manager or the overall structure of the company?

It, at first sounds romantic and virtuous to be a rebel. But we have to ask ourselves: Is it worth the dissonance and push-back for you and the co-workers? Is it solving something or perpetuating it?

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com

Fine wine is like...

Identify, judging and enjoying fine wine is like:

Choosing your ideal car
Hiring a financial advisor
Picking a lawyer or a puppy
Buying your dream home
Choosing your mate

It's very difficult, extremely personal and sometimes conflicting. It usually has nothing to do with pedigree or blood-line, it has to do with taste...yours.

Barry LaBov
LaBov & Beyond
www.labov.com