“You Made My Week!” Made My Day
Recently I met with a new client about her web marketing. We kicked around ideas, reviewed the techie developer’s proposal, determined next steps…and then at the end of the meeting she hugged me and said, “Thanks SO much! You’ve just made my week!” Mind you, she was having a really horrible week, but still…
Appreciation is such a small thing - but it can make a BIG difference in your relationships (even without the hugging) - with clients, vendors, contractors, customers, employees, bosses…and just regular ol’ people. For example, the next time you’re faced with bad fast slowwww food service, look the person in the eye and say something like, “Whew! You’re really busy today aren’t you? Thanks and good luck!” You’ll be surprised how many times that surly teenager in a paper hat will smile back at you! (You might even get some extra free ketchup!)
(I worked in fast food way back when. It’s hard, hot, dirty work. You don’t see people on the other side of the counter. You see “cheeseburger with extra pickles,” “Five banana splits” and “Whiney little leaguer who wants fries now!” And - Oh Dear God! - here comes another screamin’ busload! Plus, the after-hours clean-up is a real bitch. We won’t even talk about the restrooms.)
Tags: appreciation, customer service
Photo credit: Sheb_as’, Flickr
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September 17th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Ahh. You speak directly to me on this one Mary.
Once upon a time it used to be that the only time people outside my immediate work group would speak to me is when something goes pear shaped. Badly pear shaped.
“Fix it. NOW!!” is generally the nicest feedback you’d get.
or
“I don’t care what the exec to the CEO did, you have to stop it! Doesn’t matter if you take an organisation of 6000 people offline. STOP IT!!”
http://www.sysadminday.com/
I do now, long process of education
, but used to be a case of never get “Great work Steve. The system ran like a dream all week. Great stuff!”.
Cheers!
- Steve
September 17th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
It is amazing how much energy can be imparted with a word of appreciation and a bit of empathetic recognition of another’s struggle to bring a measure of service in a tough situation.
Now I’m trying to imagine you in bygone days dealing with a whiney little Little Leaguer.
Keep creating,
Mike
September 18th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Steve - You mean you sys admin types want appreciation??? Geez….;-) (Having been a LAN administrator at one time, I can relate!)
Mike - The Little Leaguer wasn’t nearly as much trouble as the Mamas. Of course, I was barely older (16, 17) than the tykes back then and those women seemed so old and cranky.