My wife and I are pet people. Our pets are our companions. So two years ago, when one of our two dogs died, we struggled with the question of getting another one. Our vet reminded us that our remaining dog, Maggie, would likely fare better with another dog in the house. It was what she was accustomed to. And dogs are pack animals. They often prefer the company of people and other dogs to being alone.
But, we also knew another dog would take more time and cost money. We felt that, with the economy being as it is, maybe we shouldn’t spend the money on another dog.
On the other hand, more and more pets are being abandoned or brought to animal shelters now than ever before. The economic downturn is causing challenges for a lot of people. And, unfortunately, when people have challenges, so do pets.
When pets lose their homes they can suffer. They experience basic emotions and therefore they can feel pain when their lives are turned upside down.
So, we decided to stop worrying about a few dollars and do something to help at least two dogs. By adopting a dog that needed a home, we’d provide a companion for Maggie and we’d provide a good home for the new dog. Both dogs benefit.
You might be thinking, what does this have to do with customer service? Turns out, this has everything to do with customer service.
My philosophy is that to deliver amazing customer service, you need to care about others. That’s a value you hold. It’s a part of who you are. Values drive our actions. And the value of caring causes the action of serving. In other words, if you care about others, you will do things that serve them.
To put it simply, to serve, you must care. And if you care, you should serve.
Serving others means putting them first. It means you will do things that help others accomplish what they want. You seek to help them rather than yourself.
As my wife and I tried to decide whether or not to get another dog we were focused on ourselves. The extra time, effort and money another dog would take. What if we get one that has problems?
But when we stopped worrying about the costs to us and started focusing on helping a couple of dogs, then the decision became easy. Because we value dogs as companions and as creatures that deserve to be cared for.
And you don’t have to be “pet people” for this to work. All you have to do is think about how you can help others in your life. If you care about people then find ways to serve them. If you do this with people in all areas of your life, then you’ll naturally serve your customers better.
When we focus on helping others, our decisions become easier. Then it’s not a matter of “if” but rather of “how” do I help?
By the way, if you are a “pet person” you might like the video below. It shows Maggie and her new companion, Sadie as they meet for the first time.
Thanks for reading and make it a great day!
Other articles you might like:
- Let Them Play With Your “Pets”
- Forget Who Your Customers Are. Focus on What They Want.
- Unemployed man makes generous donation to service dog agency
- You’re Here to Serve Your Customers
- The Smart Marketing Formula – Part 3
