photo credit: Visualogist

If you haven’t heard, it’s National Customer Service Week (NCSW) 2011 this week.

According to the Institute of Customer Service it is

“a week long opportunity to raise awareness of customer service and the vital role it plays in successful business practice and the growth of the UK economy.”

They go on to say that:

“The week gives employers an ideal opportunity to recognise the efforts and achievements of people working in customer service, particularly those involved in crucial frontline and customer-facing activities. It’s also a chance for organisations to show they genuinely care about customers.”

This is something that really resonates with me. I am not sure if I have written this here on the blog before but one of the main reasons that I started this blog was borne out of a dislike for poor service and to try and promote and share simple and straightforward ideas and strategies that can help improve levels of service in business.

Therefore, I think it is great that we are trying to raise awareness about the importance of customer service in driving business performance.

But, if I have learnt anything it is that improvement is made in increments, in small steps and that inches are just as important as yards.

Therefore, how about thinking in inches this week?

Here’s some inch ideas that are free, simple and straight-forward that will help you deliver better service and build better relations with your customers:

• smile more
• say thank you more
• call someone sir or madam as a sign of respect
• in these tough times, look for a good news story, a story of hope, or of courage, heroism….something that means something to you and share it with one or more of your clients
• etc

Can you think of more?

I’m away this week with Hana having a look at this:

photo credit: Bert Kaufmann

Any guesses?

Normal service will be resumed next week 🙂