How to Wow – Simple Acts That Make A Difference
When it comes to customer experiences, there’s a vast difference between “good” and “wow.” While “good” experiences meet customer expectations, “wow” experiences exceed them. “Wow” requires a business to do more than satisfy customers; it involves surprise, delight, and forging lasting connections. In my book, The New Gold Standard, I expand on what it means…
Emotional Economics: Crafting Deeper Connections with Those You Serve
Economics isn’t just about numbers. It’s about humans, behaviors, decisions, and emotions. While writing my book Leading the Starbucks Way, I took a deep dive into a branch of economics referred to as “behavioral economics.” Research in this sub-category reveals how emotion profoundly impacts consumer decisions and how emotionality plays a pivotal role in determining…
A Guide to Memorable Customer Experiences: Forget Heroism – Focus on Thoughtful Collaboration (Infographic)
In this week’s blog, I discussed about how you can drive memorable experiences. For more information on the topic, please refer to the blog. Otherwise, this infographic visually summarizes the blog’s content. To learn more about our team, please visit josephmichelli.com. To speak to me about your CX journey, please go to josephmichelli.com/contact
Your Customer Is Satisfied – Are They a Coupon Away from Leaving?
You’ve likely heard someone say, “Customer satisfaction is not enough.” While that might initially sound counterintuitive, considerable research supports the statement. The Fallacy of Satisfaction Invariably, you’ve stayed at a hotel that met all your basic needs. The room was clean, the price was reasonable, and the overall experience was fine. In essence, you were satisfied, but…
Excellence in Operations: The Not-So-Secret Recipe for Repeat Business & Referrals
In my book, The New Gold Standard, I deeply dive into how operational excellence and process improvement lay the foundation for top-tier service, as exemplified by the ladies and gentlemen of the Ritz-Carlton. Let’s look at the spa in the Ritz-Carlton Dubai as an example. If you were to book a 45-minute massage at that…
The Power of Metrics: Knowing Beyond Subjectivity
“How do you know?” – a question I often ask as a consultant that carries immense value for business leaders. Quantifiable metrics are critical to continuous improvement, especially when it comes to understanding employee engagement levels or assessing customer loyalty. Imagine being asked to grade the quality of experiences you deliver to your core customer…
Unearthing Timeless Customer Experience Wisdom – Lessons from P.T. Barnum
My friend Scott Mckain wrote a powerful customer experience book titled, All Business is Show Business, which prompted me to wonder: What could a great show person teach us about customer experience design and delivery? To answer that question, I picked up P.T. Barnum’s book “The Art of Money Getting: Golden Rules for Making Money.” …
Cornerstones of Effective Customer Service: Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Management
Welcome to the modern world of customer service, where confrontations increasingly resemble boxing matches! You can picture a loud, brash, and entitled customer in the red corner and a poorly selected, ill-trained staff member in the blue corner. According to the 2022 National Customer Rage Study: 74% of Americans reported product or service problems in the…
Unforgettable Experiences: Poignant Lessons on Authentic Care
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has long been synonymous with outstanding customer service and unforgettable experiences. Here’s a touching example of a memorable experience from my book. Laura Gutierrez, a Ritz-Carlton HR Director, learned about 13-year-old Natalie’s battle with cancer from Natalie’s eighth-grade teacher, Mrs. Lewis. In response, the Ritz-Carlton team sprang into action, arranging a…
VUCA and YOU – How to Thrive in Complex Times
Third in a Series This four-part series addresses strategies for managing the challenges of living in and leading through VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity). If you missed the first installment (which puts VUCA in a historical context and offers strategies for managing the V in VUCA – Volatility), you can find it here. The…
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