Stop the Sorry Statements Once and For All

In an episode of Seinfeld, George Costanza says, “You can stuff your sorries in a sack, mister.” He meant, “Your apologies are not accepted!” Are you using sorry statements in your business or organization? Many companies are quick to say “I’m sorry,” because they believe the statement comes across as great service. That’s just not…

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Stand Out Value Add

How To Stand Out in Your Marketplace

You achieve a unique stamp in your marketplace by delivering a noteworthy guest experience, making extras count without a doubt, and providing value-added benefits to your offerings. Here’s an excerpt from my article on how to do it. Use the link below to get the full resource. Deliver a Noteworthy Experience Think of an experience…

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Is My Body Language Showing?

It’s so important to factor in body language when it comes to making a first impression. Before you open your mouth to speak, you
 have already delivered a message. The words you speak, intertwined with your body language, communicate whether you are approachable or unapproachable, and so much more. Here’s an excerpt on what to…

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Transitions That Work: Passing the Baton

One area that receives the lowest scores when we conduct a guest encounter audit for a client is the lack of smooth transitions during the transaction. Imagine a track relay team: one runner has the baton. As he approaches the next runner, they stride in unison for several lengths. He then passes the baton without…

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Do Not Disappoint: The Power of Positive Positioning

Here is a key sentiment on customer service: once you have set an expectation of a good experience, do not disappoint. Before making a presentation for nurses, I asked a critical care nurse what she wanted her staff to hear during my talk. She responded, “I want you to say, ‘One of your patients will…

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Authentic Connecting, One Step at a Time

Connecting with others to build a relationship in business can oftentimes be difficult. Case in point: my high school job of making donuts at a grocery store. Every Saturday morning, I rose before the sun, arrived at the store, dropped dough balls into grease, then frosted them. Being genuinely happy doing this was a bit…

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The Big Seven of Customer Service

A few years ago, I went to see the doctor. He said, “Laurie, I’ve got to ask you a question. How is it possible that a motivational speaker can have a weight problem?” I said, “Well, that’s easy. I see the golden arches, and I’m motivated to turn in.” I joke, but really we all…

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Guest Encounters: Customer Service and Staff Development

This month, I’ll begin sharing the tools and resources I’ve developed over 20 years of customer service training and public speaking. With over two dozen exercises and articles, the resulting book covers the two biggest parts of my work: customer service and staff development. Attendees at my events and training sessions have received this content…

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Quick Six of Customer Service

Thanks for stopping by! I’ve been speaking to teams, companies and leaders for decades, and time and again, these are the most requested — and most helpful! — resources I share with anyone looking to improve their customer service game. I call it my Quick Six of Customer Service, and I think you’ll find at…

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12 Steps to Dealing With Angry Customers

Nobody wants them, yet we all have them—angry customers. It doesn’t matter what position you hold in the office, knowing how to handle the dissatisfied consumer is crucial.  Want this resource as a PDF? Get it here. I’ve included a training video on this topic at the bottom of the post; but first, let’s take…

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