September 2005

Common Courtesy Isn't So Common - 10 Telephone Blunders in Everyday Business

As youngsters, many of us were taught basic telephone etiquette. These lessons taught us the basic components of conducting a phone conversation - politeness, attentiveness, respect, and common courtesy. Unfortunately, it seems these lessons have been forgotten by many of today's companies. For many, the philosophy seems to say that it's easier to forgo these practices and, instead, choose to deal with the customer service consequences later. It seems the true cost to the bottom line is of not of any consequence. Why in a time of ever increasing competition locally and abroad, along with the knowledge of customers' high expectations, would anyone be willing to overlook and undervalue this most basic customer service skill? Read more...

Try Using a Little Customer Service Common Sense

Joy went to the local cafe to pick up dinner for the evening. I asked her to bring back a Jamaican Jerk wrap for me. She returned home with a devilish smile on her face. I asked her to share with me what she was thinking about that made her smile. She said the cafe server wrote on the food wrapper so that I can identify which meal belonged to me. This is what she handed to me.

The word "jerk" was written on the wrapper. I had a good laugh. What was the server thinking? I can't make this up.

It helps to have a little common sense when serving customers. Write Jamaican Jerk, Jamaican, or J.J., but don't write "jerk."

Have you run into a situation where the person serving you didn't show common sense? Share your story with us.

Make a Difference!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. You can't help but be moved emotionally from the updated news reports coming out of LA, MS, and AL. A hurricane doesn't care if you are rich or poor. Hurricanes will cause destruction just the same.

Make a difference! Below are organizations you can donate time, food, clothes, money, and your expertise, etc.:

• Red Cross: 1-800-HELP-NOW or https://www.redcross.org/

• Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/

• Second Harvard: http://www.secondharvest.org/

• United Way: 1-800-272-4620http:/www.national.unitedway.org/

• Network for Good http://www.networkforgood.org

• Episcopal Relief & Development: 1-800-334-7626 or http://www.er-d.org/

• Mercy Corps http://www.mercycorps.org

• United Methodist Committee on Relief: 1-800-554-8583 or http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/emergency/hurricanes/2005/

• Salvation Army: 1-800-SAL-ARMY or http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

• Catholic Charities: 1-800-919-9338 or http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/

• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: http://www.nvoad.org/

• Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: http://www.la-spca.org/