(1888PressRelease)
December 09, 2006 - Sheila Rae
Image by Sheila Rae
www.imagebysheilarae.com
517-610-1467
America needs to step up the plate. China is covering every base in the field of business. They are even going as far as to teach their citizens proper social etiquette. Have they figured out that great businesses focus on people skills as well as a great product? Are American companies going to faces up to the challenge and spend the money to make sure their employees are etiquette proficient?
Some American companies have seen the need and have hired professional trainers to help their employees brush up on these skills. However, others need to follow suit if they plan to stay ahead in the business world. People are tired of being treated poorly. We get it in restaurants, when people are talking to friends on their cell phone. We cannot even escape it on the road; road rage is on the rise. We deal with in when we go shopping from other customers. We experience it in the checkout line, by staff that ignores us or treats us rudely. Where do these companies find these people?
The worst offenders in the area of customer service are the companies who use an electronic phone system. Customers do not appreciate “so called” customer service when they never speak to a person unless they hit 15 buttons. The buttons take them through a maze of questions. Then what question fits their need? Is the cost of real people so outrageous that we are willing to eliminate customer service? The absolute worst offenders are those who outsource customer service to other countries and the people on the other end do not even speak English. Wake-up corporate America, Americans are getting tired of your lack of concern in the area of customer service.
Communities are loosing business to other parts of the world should consider adding the office Ethical and Cultural Development like the one they have in China. We already have a comparable in most cities called the Chamber of Commerce. If Chambers would offer their members this invaluable training maybe American companies would keep up with China. The last thing we want to do in our society is to have a customer seek out our services or product and then have them walk away. An etiquette-trained competitor is waiting in the wings to take any customer looking for service. America would hate to see that competitor be China. However, if they are not willing to spend the money to train their employees they may soon not need to train anyone.
Etiquette training should cover verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. It should also cover how to hire employees that are proficient in etiquette. Why hire a person who lacks these skills? Why excuse employees for their poor manners because they have been with you so many years? Are they loosing you money, training is cost effective. You should look for trainers will come in, observe your employees, and then tailor a program. Companies like Image by Sheila Rae. Sheila Rae says, “If you treat everyone with respect they will start treating everyone they meet with respect. It is like a line of dominos, if one starts the other follow.”
Maybe everyone needs a little brush up on this vital skill. For some reason people seem to be more tolerant of bad behaviors. Why do we let people get away with it? If it says no smoking, it means no smoking. It does not mean no smoking for everyone else. On the other hand, why do we let people get away with going through the express lane with way over the limit? The limit is set to speed up service but if the business does not enforce the rule, why have the line at all? The best example of disregard to customer service is when a business says all checkout lines will be open for these specific hours to help the after work rush. Therefore, they turn on all the lights yet do not staff all the lines. If people would just stop using that store, or speak up poor behavior like this would end. However, most people just move to another line and say nothing.
Americans need to expect and demand good service; it keeps companies on the cutting edge and keeps outside competitors out of the mix. Etiquette training is a simple process if you have a good trainer. Most people find this type of training very beneficial and eye opening. A good trainer will make the process effortless and fun and over time, we may all be etiquette proficient, which will make this country stronger and more productive.
