A reporter recently asked what entrepreneurs should ask themselves before beginning a start-up. I suggested these five questions:
Quickies
I Don’t Get It … Memorizing Presentations
I Don’t Get … why some people think it’s a good idea to memorize a typical workplace presentation. Some authors even suggest it. Allow me my monthly rant in response.
Powerful Pitch
A reader recently entered a local business pitch competition with a grand prize of $5,000 and asked for feedback on her ‘script’. I thought you’d find my comments interesting.
My New Year’s Non-Resolution
Again this year, my New Year’s Resolution is not to make any New Year’s Resolutions. They’re lame, obsolete and no one keeps them for very long. But … I do plan. I’ll continue to refine goals, objectives, strategies and tactics to keep growing and improving my workplace communication consulting, training and coaching business. I’ll search … Read more
Your Network of Advisors
A reporter recently asked how entrepreneurs can expand their network of professional advisors. My thoughts:
Teaching Customer Service Skills
A reporter recently asked my thoughts on teaching customer service skills to employees with no previous experience. Thought you’d be interested in my comments.
Let’s assume the new Customer Service employees have participated in an effective and comprehensive orientation program about the industry, company and community. Then, they transitioned into an orientation about the Customer Service department, its mission, role, etc. Part of that orientation process should include:
I Don’t Get it – Work/Life Balance
My rant this month is about a cliché we all hear and many of us use – ‘Work/Life Balance’. I understand the concept but I Don’t Get … the words used. So please humor this incurable wordsmith a little.
Avoid these Customer Service Mistakes
Here’s a summary of my comments from a wide-ranging conversation with a blogger about mistakes employees make that prevent customer engagement and make them unhappy.
Overcoming Stage Fright?
How can people overcome stage fright or Presentation Anxiety (PA), the clinical term? Short answer – they can’t – it’s a perfectly normal human response to fear or stress. But what I help my executive coaching clients accomplish is managing their PA through Minimizing and Masking techniques.
Dealing with Angry Customers
Of utmost importance is having a well-defined policy in place that senior management participated in creating and signed off on and that everyone who touches customers understands, embraces and follows consistently. Periodic re-training or review can be helpful. Components of that policy should include: