They Turned Lemons into Lemonade

lemons & lemonade

Can you think of a time when you were the customer, “they” made a mistake, but handled it in such a way that you ended up happy, kept doing business with them, and maybe even recommended them to others?

Isn’t it great when that happens?

Don’t you wish it happened more?  It would be a whole lot easier for everybody in the long run.

With the hope of raising the awareness of and promoting the mastery of  Mistake Management, we have declared September Mistake Management Month.  And we are looking for lemons to lemonade stories.

Here are a few to get things started….about Domino’s, Outback Steak House and Four Corners RestaurantRead more

Post to Twitter

We beat the heat & turned lemons into lemonade.

September 3, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Serious About Service · Comment 

lemons & lemonade

 Can you think of a  time your organization made a mistake and then handled it so well that the customer was pleased, kept doing business with you, and maybe even recommended you to others?

If so, congratulations!  I hope it’s part  of your company folklore so that everyone there can learn from it – both the mechanics and the philosophy.

And I hope you will share the story here so that people outside your organization can learn from it.  Who knows…you might be on the receiving end of better mistake management because of it!

Need some examples first to trigger some memories?  Here are a few stories we have collected over the years. Read more

Post to Twitter

Yes! We celebrate mistakes!

September 3, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Serious About Service · Comment 

Mistake Cake

Does your organization celebrate mistakes?  Reward mistakes?  Make it safe to make and learn from mistakes?

Like the ones below about Ben & Jerry’s, Keebler Cookies & Crackers and Brogan & Partners.

We’d love to hear your story too!

Read more

Post to Twitter

The Making of Mistake Cake

September 3, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Serious About Service · Comment 

Years ago, I was making a birthday cake for a colleague at work. Yellow cake with chocolate icing.

The layers were just out of the oven and needed to cool a while before the icing went on. But it was late, I was tired and so I didn’t wait.

Big mistake! Read more

Post to Twitter

It’s Mistake Management Month!

September 3, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Serious About Service · Comment 

   

September is Mistake Management Month here at Business Class.  

The purpose  is to raise awareness of mistake management and to celebrate those who do it masterfully. 

The mechanics of and the philosophy behind managing mistakes is missing in most Customer Service Plans.   

And that is a BIG mistake.   Because as much as we all try not to make mistakes, we will make them from time to time.  And if we aren’t prepared to handle them,  we leave ourselves wide open for aftershocks such as: Read more

Post to Twitter

Movie of the Week: Next Steps

September 3, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal, Movie of the Week · Comment 

Football season has just begun and so our feature film is from the locker room…a scene from the movie Any Given Sunday.

This is a good one to show your team if they need encouragement to keep on pushing, inch by inch, toward the goal.

In case football isn’t your thing or in case showing a movie with this message is not the best next step for your team…

don’t worry!  There are many other options in our cineplex.   Scroll below to see all the choices.    You can watch one or all for the same price.

So grab some popcorn and enjoy!

Read more

Post to Twitter

Watch Your Step

September 3, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal · Comment 

A word of caution about next steps…

…be sure your next steps are connected to your desired outcome.  

Doing so can save you lots of unnecessary steps.

By the way…do you know your desired outcome?

Use this (below) as a helpful reminder.   Post to your computer screen in 3 easy steps (see below).  

Related Articles: 

Related Themes:  Read more

Post to Twitter

Brainteaser of the Week #44

Use a brainteaser to start, revive or end a meeting. It’s a great way to shift the brain, spark new energy, maybe even cause a giggle or a smile. All of which can help you boost morale and productivity. Making it easier to get wherever or whatever it is you want to get.

This one reveals a great tip for….oops…better not tell you. Have already given you enough hints.

Brainteaser #44 is below. Read more

Post to Twitter

Quote of the Week: What’s the next step?

 Do less.  Leave things undone.  Stop the busy-ness.   Get going.  Build momentum…even if it is with baby steps.  Sound contradictory or confusing? 

 This week we clarify and reinforce critical points and share helpful how to’s.    So…

It’s a question asked frequently by take-charge-make-it-happen leaders.

It keeps things moving… Read more

Post to Twitter

Theme for the Week: Next Steps

August 29, 2010 · Filed Under 2 Little Time, Be a Better Manager, Get 2 Goal · Comment 

For four weeks straight, we shared quotes and tips and lists that suggested doing less, leaving things undone and even coming up with a list of things to stop doing altogether in order to stop the busy-ness

And then last week…we said to get going, to build momentum…even if it is with baby steps.

Sound contradictory or confusing?

This week we will clarify and reinforce critical points about next steps.  Plus helpful how to’s. Read more

Post to Twitter

Next Page »