Sheesh, you were just kidding. Besides, who doesn’t think Brian’s unibrow is hilarious?
Negative Ned Says…
“Customers deserve to know the truth, so I tell them the truth…about my co-workers. Then if they’re going to complain about someone, it won’t be about me. ‘The installers don’t have enough training.’ ‘That tech just wants you to spend more because he’s trying to win Employee of the Month.’ ‘I’d ask my manager if we could make an exception in your case, but he’s a total moron who always says no.’ When I’m talking to my co-workers, I always adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. It makes me feel better about myself, and I figure it makes me look good to the boss, too.”
Positive Paul Says…
“Great customer service is not just about how you treat your customers, but also how you treat your co-workers. When you talk down, humiliate, or demean co-workers, your customers will notice and will form a negative impression about you and about your company.
Be a team player. Be kind to your co-workers and be supportive of them. When you and your colleagues support and genuinely like one another and have fun together, your customers can’t help but feel welcomed and part of the team. Additionally, working together improves everything about your time on the job — from actually learning something new about others to realizing you have a few things in common.”
A Real World Example
What is your impression when you hear employees speak highly about one another? As a woman checked in for her doctor’s appointment the receptionist said, “Oh, you’re going to see Dr. Smith? You are going to love Dr. Smith.” When the medical assistant walked her to the examining room, she said, “Oh, Dr. Smith is your doctor? Everybody loves Dr. Smith.” After the doctor entered the room, he said, “Oh, you were working with my assistant, Nancy. She’s going to take such great care of you.” When she checked out, the receptionist said, “Lucky you. You get to go to our pharmacy. They are so kind and friendly down there.” The woman couldn’t help but feel positive about everyone she met. What a great environment in which to work and be cared for!
Moral to the story: Speaking highly of your co-workers in front of customers creates a healing environment – no drugs required!
Strategies to Turn This Around
Speak highly of your company and colleagues.
- It’s okay not to like all your colleagues, but be cordial.
- Treat everyone with kindness and respect.
- Remember and repeat rule number two.
Remember: Customers pay attention not only to how you treat them, but also to how you treat your co-workers.
“Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people — your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.”
— Barbara Bush
© 2012 by Barbara Khozam Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this message may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the publisher.