We have talked several times about finding the right "employee fit"  for the job. Why? Because there seems to still be several organizations that could use and apply some additional information on the subject. 

So here we have the formula for you in words- below you will get the comprehensive list of "must have or must develop" skills. To most successfully implement these, companies must have a people-focused culture and human resources hiring strategy that focuses on finding and developing successful employees who meet company goals.  The disconnect comes when the company's business strategies, company culture, and HR activities are not aligned.

Unless the reason for a rule is understood, it is difficult to learn the rule, and it is still more difficult to apply it successfully in practice.

-George C. Crocker, Crocker's Principles of Procedure

 It can be very tempting to give the reason "because I said so"  because it's so quick and easy, but it is seldom a compelling explanation for the person who hears it.  It may make a toddler follow instructions for a brief time, but rarely does it lead to lasting change (anyone who has ever tried to get a four-year-old to stop jumping on the couch or bed has experienced this). And even more importantly, it fails to teach the child anything and does not give him or her the ability to apply the same concepts to new situations.

Back by popular demand this holiday!  For your enjoyment during this wonderful time of the year, we want to give you some additional smiles. Is there anything sweeter than the innocence of a child's view on how the world runs? Their perspective and beliefs on subjects like customer service is so straightforward and simple. Children's thoughts are pure and non-complicated, and this is where the lesson comes in for the adults. 

Creativity loves constraint.  People often think of it in terms of artistic work—unbridled, unguided effort that leads to beautiful effect.  If you look deeper, however, you’ll find that some of the most inspiring art forms—haikus, sonatas, religious paintings, are fraught with constraints.  They’re beautiful because creativity triumphed over the rules…Creativity, in fact, thrives best when constrained.

-Marissa Mayer

Even the best well-oiled customer service machine can (and will) malfunction.  Follow our tips below to avoid the four key mistakes that can turn a basic malfunction into a full disaster.  We want to help you to keep your business safe and your customers happy.

While "thanks" has a nice ring to it, words just don’t carry the gravity of actions. If you’re in the customer service business—and every business is, in some capacity—you should strive to continually show your gratitude to customers in fun and memorable ways.

-Gregory Ciotti, HelpScout.com