Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

If you want to delight your customers, then the book by  Steve Curtin ,  Delight Your Customers -- 7 Simple Ways to Raise Your Customer Service from Ordinary to Extraordinary , is a must-read for you and your employees. The book explains the  seven ways  for you and your employees to demonstrate  exceptional customer service : Express genuine interest Offer sincere and specific compliments Share unique knowledge Convey authentic enthusiasm Use appropriate humor Provide pleasant surprises Deliver service heroics "Exceptional customer service typically costs no more to deliver than poor customer service," explains Curtin. For example: How much does it cost to express genuine interest in customers or to anticipate their needs? Does it cost more to display a sense of urgency or to pay attention to detail? Do you pay your employees more to smile, to make eye contact, or to add energy to their voices? Curtin reminds readers that: Customers don't establish relationship...

“Companies that put customers first—ahead of all other stakeholders—are the ones that win,” explain Fred Reichheld , Darci Darnell and Maureen Burns , authors of the new book, Winning On Purpose: The Unbeatable Strategy Of Loving Customers .  Furthermore, they share that when companies enrich the lives of customers as their company’s primary purpose, they ensure sustainable growth, happily fulfilled employees, and robust investor returns.  “When customers feel the love, they come back for more and bring their friends,” explain the authors. “And when you earn your customers’ trust, they openly share their needs and vulnerabilities. They provide honest feedback, which helps you design and deliver optimal experiences.”  Throughout the book, via a mix of personal stories, customer and employee experiences, along with CEO and investor insights, the authors demonstrate how to:  Use a moral compass to ensure people are treated right. Serve customers with empathy an...

If you want to delight your customers, then the book by  Steve Curtin ,  Delight Your Customers -- 7 Simple Ways to Raise Your Customer Service from Ordinary to Extraordinary , is a must-read for you and your employees. The book explains the  seven ways  for you and your employees to demonstrate  exceptional customer service : Express genuine interest Offer sincere and specific compliments Share unique knowledge Convey authentic enthusiasm Use appropriate humor Provide pleasant surprises Deliver service heroics "Exceptional customer service typically costs no more to deliver than poor customer service," explains Curtin. For example: How much does it cost to express genuine interest in customers or to anticipate their needs? Does it cost more to display a sense of urgency or to pay attention to detail? Do you pay your employees more to smile, to make eye contact, or to add energy to their voices? Curtin reminds readers that: Customers don't establish relationship...

"Today's customers demand something unlike anything they have ever wanted in the past -- a connection with your business," explains  Noah Fleming , author of the  must-read book ,  Evergreen . "This means that in order to increase customer loyalty, you need to create a relationship with that customer on a deeper and much more profound level," adds Fleming. And, to do this, you need to think in an entirely new way (at times even counter intuitively) about your market, your customers and your marketing offers. Noah Fleming Fortunately, in Fleming's  timely and intensively relevant book , he shows you through strategies, exercises and examples what to do. Fleming's techniques teach you how to acquire customers faster and how to create what he calls  legitimate brand loyalty  -- the type that helps to keep your business thriving. One of the book's most compelling lessons for me was why it's so important to tell your customers your  company's orig...

  How To Become A Rainmaker  is a quick, instructional book that reveals the rules for getting and keeping customers and clients. Written by  Jeffrey J. Fox , the handbook format provides you the best approaches to take to become a true rainmaker – one who brings clients, money, business, or even intangible prestige to an organization.  One of the real gems in the book is Fox’s  The Rainmaker’s Credo , which includes:  Cherish customers at all times. Treat customers as you would your best friend. Listen to customers and decipher their needs. Make (or give) customers what they need. Teach customers to want what they need. Make your product the way customers want it. Get your product to your customers when they want it. Give your customers a little extra, more than they expect. Thank each customer sincerely and often.

"Today's customers demand something unlike anything they have ever wanted in the past -- a connection with your business," explains  Noah Fleming , author of the  must-read book ,  Evergreen . "This means that in order to increase customer loyalty, you need to create a relationship with that customer on a deeper and much more profound level," adds Fleming. And, to do this, you need to think in an entirely new way (at times even counter intuitively) about your market, your customers and your marketing offers. Noah Fleming Fortunately, in Fleming's  timely and intensively relevant book , he shows you through strategies, exercises and examples what to do. Fleming's techniques teach you how to acquire customers faster and how to create what he calls  legitimate brand loyalty  -- the type that helps to keep your business thriving. One of the book's most compelling lessons for me was why it's so important to tell your customers your  company's orig...

Flavio Martins ' book,  Win The Customer , teaches you  70 simple rules for sensational service . "These can be used as a top-down resource in organizations looking to develop or enhance a service culture," explains Martins. "They can also be used as a resource for individuals who want to transform the way service is handled from the ground up, even when lacking the full commitment and support from organization-wide training and change efforts." To deliver sensational customer service, you need to have the  right culture . Martin says that the right culture: Inspires  -- Culture isn't a mission statement; it's a statement of action. Fosters  -- When united in a common goal, people contribute to an environment where everybody willingly comes to work each day and pours their best efforts into doing what they believe will make the greatest difference. Transforms  -- When working toward a higher purpose, the right culture has a real, positive effect on the w...

Last year brought the release of the book,  Unlocking The Customer Value Chain , by  Thales S. Teixeira , the Lumry Family Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He shows in his book how and why consumer industries are disrupted and what established companies can do about it—while highlighting the specific strategies potential startups use to gain a competitive edge. Among the insights revealed in the book are:  Startups do not disrupt existing markets – customers do. Customers, in effect, pay businesses with their money, time, and effort. These determine whether consumers will change their behavior or not. Most disruption in the marketplace occurs not because of new innovations in technology but as the result of new business models.  Lots of food-for-thought in this book. And, vivid insights from in-depth and exclusive accounts of both startups and reigning incumbents as they respond.

Earlier this year brought the release of the book,  Unlocking The Customer Value Chain , by  Thales S. Teixeira , the Lumry Family Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He shows in his book how and why consumer industries are disrupted and what established companies can do about it—while highlighting the specific strategies potential startups use to gain a competitive edge. Among the insights revealed in the book are:  Startups do not disrupt existing markets – customers do. Customers, in effect, pay businesses with their money, time, and effort. These determine whether consumers will change their behavior or not. Most disruption in the marketplace occurs not because of new innovations in technology but as the result of new business models.  Lots of food-for-thought in this book. And, vivid insights from in-depth and exclusive accounts of both startups and reigning incumbents as they respond.

“Business development is the craft of finding the right prospect and then designing the perfect buying experience for that prospect,” explains Mo Bunnell , the author of, The Snowball System: How to Win More Business and Turn Clients into Raving Fans . Whether you are new to sales or a sales veteran, this book is a must-read. It’s practical, concise and clear. It teaches you how to influence others in an authentic, helpful way – using a program and process that you can begin using today. And one that you’ll learn to enjoy. The book’s 10 chapters cover these primary topics: Building relationships with potential clients Targeting your ideal clients and positioning yourself to win Getting people to like you (authentically) Turning prospects into clients Turning leads into clients Closing a sale Planning for long-term success with clients Creating momentum in teams Some of my favorite takeaways from the book are: Nothing will have a more d...

Flavio Martins ' book,  Win The Customer , teaches you  70 simple rules for sensational service . "These can be used as a top-down resource in organizations looking to develop or enhance a service culture," explains Martins. "They can also be used as a resource for individuals who want to transform the way service is handled from the ground up, even when lacking the full commitment and support from organization-wide training and change efforts." To deliver sensational customer service, you need to have the  right culture . Martin says that the right culture: Inspires  -- Culture isn't a mission statement; it's a statement of action. Fosters  -- When united in a common goal, people contribute to an environment where everybody willingly comes to work each day and pours their best efforts into doing what they believe will make the greatest difference. Transforms  -- When working toward a higher purpose, the right culture has a real, positive effect...

Whether you are in a new customer service role or simply need some customer service refresher tips,  Customer Service Training 101 , is the book for you.   Now in its third edition (originally published in 2005), you’ll find practical and actionable techniques and behaviors to ensure you are providing the best possible service for your customers.   Along with dozens of scenarios, examples, guidelines and practice lessons, author,  Renee Evenson , also provides a focus on customer service in today’s marketplace, which includes  effectively using social media .   My favorite parts of the book include Evenson’s techniques for  effective customer service via the phone  and for  properly responding to customer complaints .   First, for effective  customer service via the phone : Verbalize what you are doing  – explain to your customer what you are doing throughout the phone contact. Never assume that the perso...

Every business leader should periodically call his/her company to observe how their customers are being treated by their employees -- because, all too often a phone conversation becomes a customer turnoff rather than a relationship builder. So, here's a checklist that is primarily from sales expert and author Paul R. Timm that you can use to evaluate your organization's customer service via the phone: 1. Was the phone answered after two rings or less? 2. Did the employee use an appropriate greeting? 3. Did the employee identify himself or herself by name? 4. Was the employee's tone of voice pleasant and businesslike? 5. Was the call handled efficiently without being abrupt? 6. Did the employee provide accurate information or refer the caller to an appropriate person? 7. Did the employee reflect the best image for the company? 8. Did the employee thank the caller? 9. Did the employee make prudent use of putting the caller on hold if it was necessary to do so?...

Author  Harvey MacKay  wrote the following spot-on advice years ago in a column in the  Kansas City Business Journal .  He wisely points out that all employees at every level should never use these four words in front of a client/customer for both obvious and perhaps not so obvious reasons: Can't --  As in, "We can't do that."  "We can't meet that deadline."  Unless you honestly cannot produce and then be honest and help them find another vendor. Busy  -- As in, "I'll call you when I'm not so busy."  "I'm really busy right now." The word "busy" gives your customer the impression they are a low priority. Safe  -- As in, "Let's play it safe."  Customers typically want to engage in calculated risks versus playing it safe. Fear  -- As in, "I fear that we may be moving too fast."  That tells your customer you haven't done your homework. MacKay writes, "Common sense, thorough r...

In your leadership role, it's vital that your team members know how to deliver excellent customer service. " Knock Your Socks Off " type service as book editor  Ann Thomas  and  Jill Applegate  would say. Part of delivering excellent customer service is saying "Thank You" to your customers and knowing when to say "Thank You". Thomas and Applegate recommend  telling your customers "Thank You" during at least these nine situations : When they do business with you...every time. When they compliment you (or your company) When they offer you comments or suggestions When they try one of your new products or services When they recommend you to a friend When they are patient...and even when they are not so patient When they help you to serve them better When they complain to you When they make you smile You and your team members can say "Thank You" : Verbally In writing  (and don't underestimate the power of  person...

Consider this advice from author  Paul R. Timm . He recommends  a different twist on asking your customers questions : stop asking your customers the "typical" questions and instead ask them open-ended questions. Here's specifically what Timm recommends: Don't Ask : How was everything? Can I get you something else? Did you find everything you need? Will that be all? Was everything satisfactory? Instead Ask : What else can I do for you? What else can I get for you? What else can I help you with? What else could we do to better serve you? How else can we be of help? These open-ended questions will let your customers really  express their ideas, opinions and needs . Timm is the author of,  50 Powerful Ideas You Can Use To Keep Your Customers .

"Today's customers demand something unlike anything they have ever wanted in the past -- a connection with your business," explains  Noah Fleming , author of the  must-read book ,  Evergreen . "This means that in order to increase customer loyalty, you need to create a relationship with that customer on a deeper and much more profound level," adds Fleming. And, to do this, you need to think in an entirely new way (at times even counter intuitively) about your market, your customers and your marketing offers. Noah Fleming Fortunately, in Fleming's  timely and intensively relevant book , he shows you through strategies, exercises and examples what to do. He explains why the customer is  not  always right.  And, why not every customer is worth keeping. Fleming's techniques teach you how to acquire customers faster and how to create what he calls  legitimate brand loyalty  -- the type that helps to keep your business thriving. ...

My two favorite learnings from Stephen Denning ’s book, The Age of Agile: How Smart Companies Are Transforming theWay Work Gets Done , are the following:   First, where Denning explains the 10 elements of an organization/company that is passionate about, and driven by, the goal of delighting customers . Those elements are:   There is a shared goal of delighting the customer. Top management takes responsibility for ensuring enthusiasm for delighting the customer throughout the organization. The firm aspires to be the best at what it does. Everyone in the organization has a clear line to the customer. The firm ensures it has accurate and thorough knowledge of the customer. Staff members are empowered to make decisions. The firm’s structure changes with the marketplace. Relationships are interactive, vertically, horizontally, internally, and externally. Back-office functions are aligned to serve the customer. Value for customers must be monetizable ...

Whether you are in a new customer service role or simply need some customer service refresher tips, Customer Service Training 101 , is the book for you.   Now in its third edition (originally published in 2005), you’ll find practical and actionable techniques and behaviors to ensure you are providing the best possible service for your customers.   Along with dozens of scenarios, examples, guidelines and practice lessons, author, Renee Evenson , also provides a focus on customer service in today’s marketplace, which includes effectively using social media .   My favorite parts of the book include Evenson’s techniques for effective customer service via the phone and for properly responding to customer complaints .   First, for effective customer service via the phone : Verbalize what you are doing – explain to your customer what you are doing throughout the phone contact. Never assume that the person on the other end understands.  During p...