Back in 1988, the International Customer Service Association declared the first week of October as Customer Service Week.
In 1992, United States President George H. W. Bush signed the Customer Service Proclamation and declared Customer Service Week a national event, to recognize the importance of customer service and to honor those who provide it.
There are many ways to celebrate it. Some companies have internal activities to recognize those who provide customer service. Some have special activities or promotions to say thanks to their customers. Some have activities focused on raising awareness of customer service in their organizations.
We like all of these ideas plus a few more. See below. We’d love to hear about your favorites.
Tips & Tools for Customer Service Week – some for treating, some for tweaking.
for Tweaking
1. Celebrate the good. At a staff meeting, ask the group to put themselves in the shoes of your paying customers.
- Then ask the question: “What do customers like about doing business with us?”
- Quick. Quick. List as many things as you can in 5 minutes.
- Write them all on the easel or board.
- Leave it there and invite people to come back and add things during the week.
- Re-visit it at the next meeting.
- Then have it typed up and posted on your Wall of Fame or other prominent spot.
2. Continue to celebrate the good by reading comments or testimonials from customers to the group. Add these to your Wall of Fame as well.
3. Continue to celebrate the good by asking the group: “What do you like about working here?”
- Quick. Quick. List as many things as you can in 5 minutes.
- Write them all on the easel or board.
- Leave it there and invite people to come back and add things during the week.
- Re-visit it at the next meeting.
- Then have it typed up and posted on your Wall of Fame or other prominent spot.
4. Plant tweak seeds by asking this follow up to question #1: “What would make it better for our customers?”
- Quick. Quick. List as many things as you can in 5 minutes.
- Write them all on the easel or board.
- Can any of them be implemented right now? If so – do it!
- Leave the list posted and invite people to come back and add things during the week.
- Your next steps depend upon the content of the list and your organization’s methods for decision making and change management.
- Just be sure to take action!
5. Plant tweak seeds by asking this follow up to question #3: “What would make it better to work here?”
- Quick. Quick. List as many things as you can in 5 minutes.
- Write them all on the easel or board.
- Can any of them be implemented right now?
- If so – do it!
- You can do the same as in #4 ( leave the list posted and invite people to come back and add things during the week) or ask that each person, write down his suggestions and give to you. And make an appointment to meet with each person about her list. This would be time consuming. And perhaps the absolute best investment of your time. Because these individuals are YOUR most important customers.
- From there – your next steps would depend upon your discoveries and your organization’s methods for decision making and change management.
- Just be sure to take action!
6. Reinforce your customer service values by posting questions and quotes on computer screens throughout your office. And on bulletin boards. Select from the Serious About Service section of our Quote Library. JPEG and PDF’s are available for immediate download.
for Treating
7. Would it be safe to say that your staff members provide “royal treatment” for your customers?
- Then make them kings and queens for a day (or more).
- Roll out the red carpet (red felt or cloth from a fabric store works great).
- Deliver a single red rose to each person’s desk.
- Crown each person (our local party store has great ones).
- Bring in a silver tray and coffee pot and china cups and serve coffee at each person’s desk (don’t forget to drap a white napkin over your arm).
8. Do things really pop in your office? Use this poppin’ idea.
9. Are things a little nutty in your office? This nutty idea may be perfect for you and your team.
10. If things really have been nutty, bring in a massage therapist on Friday to give neck and shoulder massages.
11. Don’t stop at the end of this week. October is a perfect time for continued tweak and treating. Get more ideas from this E-Book.
It’s loaded with meeting plans, articles, handouts and follow up materials to post. All designed to help you boost morale, productivity and customer loyalty in October and beyond.
Jan Bolick, works with leaders to boost morale, productivity, engagement and overall performance so that they and their teams make their individual and corporate goals.
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