It’s National Customer Service Week! Did you even know it existed? I’m not surprised. Created to sing the praises of the hard-working people like us who interact with customers day after day, Customer Service Week is a newer recognition than say Secretaries Day but it is catching on fast. In 1992 Congress sanctioned October 4-10 ‘Customer Service Week’ but celebrations often pop up all month long. Every year as word spreads more and more companies join in the festivities.
Smart companies realize that customer service is the backbone of their business. They strive to hire committed employees who understand and anticipate the customer’s needs and perform to exceed customer expectations creating loyal customers and genuine improvements in the bottom line. If they are really smart they take the time to recognize the efforts of these employees.
Celebrating customer service boosts morale, motivation and teamwork. It also raises company-wide awareness of customer service and makes for a fun week.
If your company doesn’t (yet) make merry for customer service week maybe you can get the ball rolling. Direct your HR department to http://www.csweek.com/customer_service_week.php the celebration central of websites dedicated to celebrating customer service. From theme days and chair decorating contests to recognition dinners, you can see what other companies are doing to honor the people working on their front line.
Want to show your commitment by doing something yourself? Make a ‘Customer Service Week’ sign and hang it in the break-room along with daily customer service trivia questions to get everybody talking. Bake a cake to share or bring in a bowl of candy to show your workmates you appreciate their efforts to make your workplace – a better place to be. Although it may initially feel awkward, try to catch your co-workers ‘in the act’ of delivering good customer service and call them out for their good work. This normally has a snowball effect with hilarious results as people get into it!
Happy celebrating! And keep up the good work!