(800) 666-5692Posted in Customer Service
Author: Wendy Wotring
The other day it happened. I let something slide that I absolutely would not have allowed in January 2020. Oh, what a difference a year makes!
It wasn’t anything earth-shattering, and it wasn’t something anyone else would likely notice. But as I laid in bed that night, I could not get it off my mind.
I’ve always prided myself in doing an excellent job, no matter the task. It was then that I realized that I had become mired in mediocrity!
When had it happened? How had it happened? The answer is, slowly and almost imperceptibly, I had allowed myself to accept good enough instead of holding myself to a higher standard.
As I laid there, unable to sleep, I vowed that I was done being anything less than exceptional! The next day, I grabbed my coffee and came up with a simple plan to get myself out of this funk.
But first, I want to tell you why this is so important to me. Imagine telling someone your product is okay, your price is average, and your service is so-so.
No one is going to buy that! Essentially that is what you are doing when you accept mediocrity and don’t strive to exceed expectations daily. The expectations I exceed today have a direct impact on what happens next week and next month.
Finally, and not the least significant, I sleep better at night knowing that I did my best for myself, my teammates, my customers, and my company.
My plan is simple:
- Exceed expectations daily. It’s not a one-and-done proposition.
- Take my time and connect with my customers and teammates. I want to be thought of as someone who cares – because I do! I will not let my busy schedule keep me from making those important connections.
- Do more than they would expect. View every task and situation as an opportunity.
- Reflect daily to hold myself accountable. Reflection and accountability are key to make sure I don’t lose focus again!
With these steps in place, I am determined to say goodbye to stagnation, leap out of mediocrity, and embrace excellence!
“The key is to set realistic customer expectations, and then not to just meet them, but to exceed them – preferably in unexpected and helpful ways.” ~ Richard Branson
What are some things you purposefully do to exceed the expectations others have of you?