Consulting

The Future of Customer Service: Human Intelligence (HI) or Artificial Intelligence (AI)

I have been slow to accept that, from a service perspective, humans will ever be replaced by computers.  I’ve suggested that customers will resist “robots” and I’ve based my thinking in part on the “uncanny valley” hypothesis which postulates that the more robots look like humans the less humans will feel comfortable with them. I…

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Legacy Schmegacy – What Will You Be Known For?

Political pundits recently have been opining about the likely legacy of various global political leaders including Fidel Castro and President Barack Obama. Certainly, the word legacy seems fitting for leaders who play on the world stage, but what about the rest of us – ordinary people trying to lead our families, communities, and businesses? Is the…

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Make the Experience Faster and More Personal

I have been involved with Starbucks since 2004, beginning with initial research I conducted for my first of two books about them (The Starbucks Experience). During my more than a decade relationship with the brand, I’ve never ceased to be amazed by the commitment of Starbucks leaders when it comes to continuous improvement for both the customer…

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Personal Brand Vetting – THEY are Listening

As I help business leaders deliver branded customer experiences, I often start with the premise that brands are nothing more than what people say about us when we’re not around. From there, I work with leaders to determine what they want to be known for and what they want to hear their customers say about…

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Countering Terror with a Service Heart

Yet again the world is rocked by a terrible and senseless mass shooting.  In a community not far from me in Central Florida, innocent men and women entered a business not expecting to run out in horror, be carried out in pain, or not walk out at all. The media will spotlight the human suffering…

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To Switch or Not To Switch – 4 Ways to Stop Customer Churn

According to a recent comprehensive international study conducted by Accenture, 52% of customers reported that poor customer service caused them to switch from one brand to another in the past year. In the U.S. alone that “switching” behavior means poor service costs brands over 1.6 trillion dollars. Given those numbers from Accenture and prior research from Bain and…

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“Happiness is not an app on a mobile phone” – The Art of Messaging

This blog is about relevant messaging throughout the journey your customers have with your brand. Although I will use Pope Francis as an example, I am not opining about the Catholic church, the popularity of the Pope, or even Christianity in general. I’ll leave all that to the theologians. Much of a customer’s journey with…

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FREE RESOURCES

The Starbucks Experience: Leadership Tips eBook
Elevating Care in Healthcare: Lessons from the UCLA Health System eBook
How to Win Every Customer, Every Time, No Excuses! Article