Train Me -- But Follow Through

My mechanic has me trained. When I take my car in for an oil change, he places a sticker in the upper left hand corner of my windshield to remind me what date and mileage I should have my next maintenance completed. But every once in a while, he forgets to put the sticker on the window. Then I have to remember the date and mileage details.

It's a good thing to train your customers and clients and it can help you pump up your bottom line. But if you choose that route, it's important to follow through.

Because my mechanic occasionally forgets the oil change sticker, he shifts the burden of that "perk" to me. On top of that, it could cut into his business if I delay the maintenance because I've forgotten when the car is due. And if he forgets stickers on several cars...well, you get the idea.

Training your customer when and how to do business with you helps both them and you. You can train your customers to easily understand when you are available, when to expect a response to a question, when to expect delivery of a specific item plus many more interactions with you and your business.

Customers appreciate consistency from the companies they do business with. But make sure you have a mechanism to help you follow through. Unmet expectations have a way of driving business to your competition.

About the Author

Denise O'Berry frequently speaks to professional organizations, is the author of three booklets, and several "how-to" manuals. She writes a weekly small business column, hosts an online small business owners forum and is called upon regularly by publications such as Entrepreneur, Bank Rate Small Business, Florida Trend, Inc., various newspapers, radio and television to provide expert comments on small business issues.

http://www.whatspossible.com
http://www.justforsmallbusiness.com
http://www.deniseoberry.com

---

Hows Your Company RQ (Reputation Quotient)?

In light of recent corporate scandals, from Enron and Global... Read More

The Business Shaman: Exploring the Mystery of Success!

Note: This article was written for a internet business site.... Read More

How to Manage Your People Well: Tips for Managers of Training

As a training manager, there are two important aspects to... Read More

Learn About Commercial Collections Agencies Fees

As with any other service, there are good and bad... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: The Role of Character in Leadership

This article relates to the Senior /Top Level Management competency,... Read More

ISO 9001 Compliant Program: Steps to Build

Implementing an ISO 9001 system represents a major effort. However,... Read More

Best Practices Plan: Dissemination of a Great Idea

Good news spreads quickly News of the invention of the... Read More

Benefits of Virtual Assistance

A virtual assistant is an individual who provides business services... Read More

Are You A B.O.S.S. -- Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self Indulgent, Sociopath

Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self- indulgent Sociopath. Avoid the B.O.S.S. syndrome with... Read More

Managing Rebellious Employees

Surveys of executives reveal that many companies fall short of... Read More

People Literacy

Every Manager has experienced the frustration of not understanding why... Read More

Plans & Goal Setting - Kicking winning Goals

Kicking Winning Business Goals The competition for business... Read More

More Problem-Solving Success Tips

The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more important... Read More

Sending Documents Through Email? Dont Get Burned by Metadata!

During a recent seminar I gave located in the suburbs... Read More

Innovation Management ? Selecting Good Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Managing Creativity

Creativity Starts Here!The ability of an organisation to create new... Read More

Building Bridges of Communication

Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More

Top Ten Tips About People Management

To get the best results you have to be very... Read More

The Professor Makes A Minus Power Move

If you think the power move has costs, consider the... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Coworkers Collaborate to Complete Successful Initiative

This short story, Coworkers Collaborate to Complete Successful Initiative, was... Read More

Develop Your People and Make More Money

What is the no. 1 asset in your business beside... Read More

Identifying Candidates for Leadership

A critical task in the succession planning process of any... Read More

Few Things Are More Destructive Than An Insecure Boss

Few things are more destructive to a career than a... Read More

How To Rebuild Trust

Here are some quick thoughts on ways to turn things... Read More

Succession Planning for Your Business - 7 Key Benefits

A core activity in many successful businesses, Succession Planning is... Read More

Beyond Management Coaching: When Things Are Getting Out of Control

Leaders and Managers often ask us, 'What do you do... Read More

Success at Work : People Skills : Dealing with New Ideas

Re-organizing, re-engineering, re-training, down-sizing, outsourcing, changing-changing-changing. Organizations today think they... Read More

OJT - On The Job Training

IntroductionManagers have two powerful ways of improving the performance and... Read More

Running Successful Meetings - The Key Steps To Getting It Right

We all complain about meetings which are a waste of... Read More

Manage Your Business from the Rockies, not the Prairies

The day job as a manager is all about managing... Read More

Warning! Meeting In Progress; May Be Hazardous To Your Career

There ought to be a sign posted on every closed... Read More

The Ins and Outs of Internal and External Relations

INTERNAL PUBLIC RELATIONS: Never overlook an opportunity to do internal... Read More

Internal Control - The Why and How

Many retailers do not have good internal controls in place... Read More