Poor Listening is a pandemic social virus that seeks to erode and destroy relationships at work, at home, between friends and within the family. It Only Hurts When I Listen identifies the surprising causes of this subtle but pervasive virus and offers a radical cure. With inspirational contributions by Ken Blanchard, Richard Blackaby and others, It Only Hurts When I Listen delivers both a wakeup call and customized treatment plan for transforming lives and relationships.

Today's consumer views loyalty to a business as a fad, and they also expect everything and then some. The companies that are thriving (and will continue to thrive) deliver amazing customer experiences. Customer service isn't just about being a department or a policy; it is about creating a culture where customers can't wait to do business with you, and are excited to refer their friends to you as well. This book's characters, Negative Ned and Positive Paul, illustrate the ABSURDITY of terrible customer service and the simple steps necessary to improve nearly every customer experience.

The book is written for CEO's, business owners and managers that want to improve the experience they are providing to their customers. Five principles of customer service are illuminated with insightful interviews with CEO's, business owners and employees that consistently demonstrate good customer service. We share illustrations depicting real customer service situations, both good and bad, that bring levity to a serious subject. We also show the financial value of implementing our principles by providing the impact to four business drivers and sharing the harsh reality of data on the sad state of customer service.

A contractor's success hinges around their most important asset: the customer relationship. With forty five years in the construction industry, author Joe Egan rose from apprentice to senior management and ownership positions at several large construction companies. Learn from his decades of experience in witnessing the building and destruction of that fragile bond between the contractor, employees and customers. Readers will (1) Uncover the common traits of the very successful contractors (2) Know the reasons why customers issue contracts other than the low price (3) Understand the principals and importance of true leadership (4) Recognize how to treat subcontractors (5) Build and maintain loyal customers (5) Learn how to get the contract on the next presentation and (6) Distinguish what is really important in life.

Do you dream of the perfect sales organization?In this organization, where information moves freely between all areas, your Customer Relationship Management system sustains your evolving sales strategies. The sales cycles and the different stages are clear and sales pipeline review gives you accurate forecasts. This is the place where all simple tasks are automated and the marketing and sales department are strongly related.In this book, you will learn to set up and use OpenERP to: * Track your customers, partners and resellers network.* Design your sales stages efficiently from leads to opportunities and quotations.* Set up a lead automation system based on email or paper marketing campaigns.* Use the Ms. Outlook, Thunderbird and mobile phone plug-ins to improve your productivity.* Get accurate sales forecast and sales pipeline directly in OpenERP.* Measure and improve your performance through real-time information dashboards.

What's Your Purple Goldfish (WYPG) is about differentiation via added value. Marketing to your existing customers via G.L.U.E (giving little unexpected extras). The end result is increased sales, happier customers and positive word of mouth.

Praise for WYPG?

"In business you must do something that's above and beyond what's expected. Phelps shows the ingredients behind creating signature extras that are unconventional and innovative. Every business should be asking themselves, "What's our Purple Goldfish?"

-Tony Hsieh, NY Times bestselling author of "Delivering Happiness" and CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.

"Influence isn't a score, it is the ability to cause, effect or change behavior. Phelps shows marketers how to add that 'little something extra' that influences consumer behavior and drives word of mouth."

- Brian Solis, Author of The End of Business as Usual, Named a Top 2011 Business Book by Publisher's Weekly

"What's Your Purple Goldfish? is the new benchmark for customer service and experience excellence. The single source for numerous concepts and innovations that can help build the foundation for a world class brand (I just hope my competition doesn't find this book.)"

- Chris Zane, Author of Reinventing the Wheel - The Science of Creating Lifetime Customers

"Stan's approach of delivering the unexpected, lagniappes, is a great way to break from the pack and instill a mindset of customer delight across your company."

- Bruce Temkin, Author of The 6 Laws of Customer Experience

"Your project has been an inspiration. I've talked about it many times, and included links in my articles. CEM can be complicated, but your examples show that with some creativity, companies can stand out by doing a little something extra."

- Bob Thompson CEO of CustomerThink.com, the world's largest community dedicated to customer-centric business, Author of CrowdService: Harnessing the Wisdom of Crowds in Customer Service and Support

"What's Your Purple Goldfish? busts a myth and reveals a simple truth about customer service. Stan uncovers the recipe for creating signature added value that increases customer satisfaction and drives positive word of mouth."

- Barry Moltz, Author of Bounce, Crazy and B-A-M

"What's Your Purple Goldfish? is unique in that it doesn't leave you asking 'Now what?' after you've read it. It's filled with actual illustrations of what successful businesses are doing right now to differentiate themselves and add value to their customers' experiences."

- Steve Curtin

"What's Your Purple Goldfish? is a great guidebook full of real-world examples business owners can use to increase great experiences to delight and surprise their customers. Read this book before your competitors do or be left in the dust."

- Phil Gerbyshak, Author / co-author of 10 Ways to Make it Great and #Twitterworks

"I have been a huge fan and contributor to The Purple Goldfish Project since inception because many companies talk about being 'customer centric' but few actually are. This project is a reflection of all those great companies that are getting it right every day, winning the hearts and minds of their customers one customer at a time "

- Paul Dunay, Author of Facebook Marketing for Dummies

"At the heart of the marketing lagniappe concept lies the truth that we cannot simply meet the expectations of customers. Every experience starts with a person who had a need they would trade something of value to have solved. Lagniappe can create the difference between needs not solved or solved poorly, and needs solved so well we happily tell others of the experience. Purple Goldfish, crafted wisely in customer experiences, can be the difference between mediocre and great business performance."

- Linda Ireland, Author of Domino: How Customer Experience Can Tip Everything In Your Business Toward Better Financial Performance

How do you stand out in a sea of

Call centres illustrate the consequences of globalisation for labour perhaps more clearly than any other form of employment. Call-centre workers sit at the interface between the global and the local, having to transcend the limitations of local time zones, cultures and speech patterns. They are also at the interface between companies and their customers, having to absorb the impact of anger, incomprehension, confusion and racist abuse whilst still meeting exacting productivity targets and staying calm and friendly. Finally, they take the brunt of the conflict at the contested interface between production and consumption, having to deal in their personal lives with the conflicts between the demands of paid and unpaid work. Drawing, amongst others, on organisational theory, sociology, communications studies, industrial relations, economic geography, gender theory and political economy, this important collection brings together survey evidence from around the world with case studies and vivid first-hand accounts of life in call centres from Asia, North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe. In the process it reveals many similarities but also demonstrates that national industrial relations traditions and workers' ability to negotiate can make a significant difference to the quality of working life in call centres.

"'42 Rules for Outsourcing Your Call Center (2nd Edition)'" is a compilation of real-life problems, lessons learned, pitfalls found, and practical approaches for planning, implementing, and outsourcing call center operations. It provides a path for companies outsourcing their first call center with a logical sequence of steps for moving an existing operation to an outsourced organization. The book is a foundation for anyone considering outsourcing their call center. It starts by answering the question "Why Outsource," and then guides the reader with rules from defining the project to selecting a vendor to the first go-live call.

Businesses continue to be challenged to find ways to minimize costs and maximize profits while retaining their customers with excellent service. They need to focus on customer retention and realize that running their own contact centers is not their core competence. These businesses need outsourcers that can deliver high customer satisfaction and execute cross-sell/up-sell revenue strategies.

This book takes the reader through the entire process from gathering requirements and setting goals, to identifying an outsourcing strategy and understanding and operational capabilities of a outsource partner. The reader will learn: When outsourcing makes sense How to define an outsourcing approach What to look for in an outsourcing partner When to determine if agents can work at home How to craft an effective RFP

"'42 Rules for Outsourcing Your Call Center (2nd Edition)'" is a must-have for all call center managers hoping to improve customer satisfaction, increase customer retention and turn their call center into a revenue generating machine.

If we are to get America back to work, it is imperative that we return to the values that made this nation great. There is a common thread among all thriving companies. They all understand the importance of customer service excellence. Legendary customer service begins with a commitment to the customer... at any cost In order to differentiate from your competition, you must stop talking about customer service excellence and start living it. This ideology must flow from the pinnacle of your organization to the very core of its foundation - persons who interact directly with your customers on a daily basis. A positive customer encounter can change the customer's perception of your organization from ordinary to exceptional. Therefore, it is paramount to understand that your organization's success depends entirely on its ability to create positive and memorable customer service experiences. In this book, you will discover timeless gems (quotes) from some of the world's most influential leaders. Leaders and innovators, who have turned their values into action and, in the process, changed the way the world does business. This book is required reading for all who work with and/or support customers. In order to get the most from your reading, we recommend that you read Legendary Customer Service until you master the precious gems within.

For the first time in book form, "B2B Customer Insight: The Proven Path to Growth," will reveal how customer insight surveys tailored to B2B relationships generate significant strategic data; data that, when properly applied, enables company management to expand their share of existing markets as well as successfully penetrate new ones. When these surveys are regularly conducted and implemented, they lead to increased long-term profits and sustainable growth. This book will appeal to virtually anyone wanting to learn about the hidden dynamics of B2B transactions, and how to make those dynamics work in a supplier's favor in their customer relationships and overall business development. In my 20 years of consulting with large manufacturing companies in a variety of industries, I've been able to develop a tested and proven customer insight methodology that I will share for the first time in this book. Utilizing real-life case studies with clients who have agreed to participate in this project, I will also discuss how this research process should never stop with the numbers. Instead, it should provide practical and impactful solutions to specific business dilemmas. The advantage of offering actual case studies of companies who successfully made significant changes (of course based on our PMG customer insight surveys) will also differentiate us from other B2B business books that lack hard, fact-based guidance as well as multiple examples of genuine and significant application.

Striving for excellence in customer service is critical to gain a competitive advantage. It is the keystone for business growth and prosperity as it builds repetitive sales to existing customers and referrals for new customers. If customer service is looked at as a major business component and all customers are treated with excellence prior to the sale, during the sale, and after the sale, customer service will become a profit center that builds sales dollars to the top line and real profits to the bottom line. Customer service is not as simple as offering a smiling "good morning" greeting and a "have a nice day" parting, but an integrated system that manifests itself in all activities of the business to wield an overall customer service organizational mentality. Every time a customer comes in "contact with the company there is what we call a "touch point" and each touch point must be a Wow! Moment" for the customer. It is the build-up of these wow moments that develops into a superior customer service experience. No longer does the company sell whatever the customer is willing to buy or the company wants to sell, but realigns its customer service efforts to sell those products that the customer really needs. This book is geared to those interested in delivering customer service as a profit center concept that enables the organization to grow in the desired directions - doing the right thing the right way in spite of organizational roadblocks.

VIR-TAN-ZA (vur-TAHN-z ) n. neologism, a newly coined term] 1. A condition, state, or attitude of truth, financial success, and customer loyalty among business-to-business sales professionals. 2. Courage in the face of adverse business cycles or uncommon challenges. 3. Commitment to the highest degree of preparedness in business dealings resulting in outstanding professional and personal achievement. 4. A process for creating exceptional solutions to sales challenges, exceeding a customer's expectations. From Latin vir, "strength, heroic courage," veritas, "truth," and bonus, "a great good, a superior benefit, a bonanza."]

The essential guide for all customer service professionals. Written by industry thought-leaders from all over the world, this valuable resource delivers a comprehensive blueprint for any organization wishing to excel in customer services. Filled with pages of practical jargon-free advice, Insiders Know-How: Customer Service redefines customer service and sets a new benchmark for the industry. This book is sponsored by The SME Shop at www.thesmeshop.com

A guide to refocusing your business on those who matter most: customers and employees.

Technology and social media tools have made it easier than ever for companies to communicate with consumers. They can listen and join in on conversations, solve problems, get instant feedback about their products and services, and more. So why, then, are most companies not doing this? Instead, it seems as if customer service is at an all time low, and that the few companies who are choosing to focus on their customers are experiencing a great competitive advantage. "At Your Service" explains the importance of refocusing your business on your customers and your employees, and just how to do it.Explains how to create a culture of empowered employees who understand the value of a great customer experienceAdvises on the need to communicate that experience to their customers and potential customersFrank Eliason, recognized by "BusinessWeek" as the 'most famous customer service manager in the US, possibly in the world, ' has built a reputation for helping large businesses improve the way they connect with customers and enhance their relationships

"At Your Service" will appeal to leaders, managers, business owners, customer service professionals, and anyone who wants to learn how to add value to their organization.

When customers are truly thrilled about their experience with a product or service, they have the potential to become one of its influential evangelists. Savvy marketing professionals know that this group of true believers can be leveraged as a potent force to build word of mouth that leads to new customers. Creating Customer Evangelists explains how to develop marketing and sales strategies that create communities of passionate customers. By cultivating a dialogue and then creating emotion-driven relationships with customers, companies can inspire grassroots support. Creating Customer Evangelists shows how to convert good customers into exceptional ones who willingly spread the word. "Lessons of customer evangelism related through real life company stories make this book an absorbing read." -- Harvard Business School "I'll admit it: at first, I was a skeptic. But halfway through this savvy and compelling book, I became a convert. And by the time I'd turned the last page, I'd become an evangelist. Say it with me, brothers and sisters: customer evangelism is the future " -- Dan Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind "An inspiring and thorough book packed with real life examples, action items and insight." -- Emanuel Rosen, author of The Anatomy of Buzz Jackie Huba and Ben McConnell, authors of Citizen Marketers, popularized the term "customer evangelism." The Seth Godin-edited New York Times bestseller The Big Moo featured them among 33 of "the world's smartest business thinkers."

In this practical, down-to-earth guide for managers at all levels, Karl Albrecht re-defines the quality and service issues by fusing them into one all-powerful concept: Customer Value. He shows you how to implement the key practices of the outstanding customer-focused companies. This is a valuable book for all managers and one that resonates with the current business environment. His pioneering concept of customer value modeling shows you how to build a strategic focus based on customer value, and how to deploy the concept all through the organization. Using his Total Quality Service (TQS) model as a framework, he guides you through the transformation process, showing you how to avoid the 'fizzle factors' and actually deliver a superior customer value package. Jan Carlzon, CEO of Scandinavian Airlines, says, "Makes a convincing case for basing efforts to improve quality on added value to the customer. Thought-provoking." Provide a copy of "The Only Thing That Matters" to each of your executives, managers, and team leaders.

Are you an ambitious professional looking to make your next move? Do you want to build strong, profitable relationships with ease?Give me five minutes and I'll tell you how to be an influential and savvy communicator. Discover simple steps to dramatically increase the effectiveness of your communication so people are inspired to give you what you want.Find the ways and the words to engage and persuade people and make more lasting and profitable relationships, quickly and easily. Save time, money and energy as you go about your business.In this book, you will discover: * The two most powerful words that inspire people to take action or instructions from you* What you're saying that always puts people on the defensive and what to say instead* What you must do to make sure you're understood - and not just nodded at* The one word you must avoid if you want to connect and persuade people with what you have to say* How to take the heat out of a hot-under-the-collar situation and immediately put yourself back in controlPlus many more tips, tools and simple strategies.

Creating loyalty isn't easy. You cannot mandate it, standardize it or make it happen through policies and procedures. You have to earn it. Businessman George Corbett finds a mentor on the train from Dundee. What he learns will propel his company to the top in customer loyalty and employee satisfaction. You can do the same for your company.

Negotiating with a customer-or prospective customer-is one of the most challenging forms of negotiating. Why? Because you have to negotiate great relationship and great return at the same time In Both Sides Win you will find three practices that will help you build relationship and achieve your goals when negotiating with a customer or prospect. The practices will help you gain influence, handle upsets, benefit from sources of power that many people tend to give away and, importantly, avoid getting sucked into price discussions too soon. The book is short and concise-something you can throw into a briefcase and pull out as a quick reminder on how to best approach a negotiation with a current or prospective customer-or anyone else. Although the focus of Both Sides Win is on customer negotiation, the practices will enhance your effectiveness in any kind of negotiation or sale.

Service is life and good service is good life. Success is synonymous with service and your rewards in life will always be in proportion to the service you render. In Jesse L. Dunn's TACT: The Roots of Legendary Service, you will learn how to transform ordinary into legendary through his eight-part system. Included are worksheets and a self-evaluation to assess your TACT Service Portrait.

Every once in a while we visit a Golf Club and walk away feeling that the service was excellent. More than likely we were given a friendly greeting, made to feel welcomed, and shown appreciation. This is a major part of what creates exceptional service. We leave with the feeling that the experience was one of pure enjoyment.

A real-world, plain-language how-to guide for delivering amazing customer service to end-users. Now in its second edition, The Compassionate Geek was written by tech people for tech people. There are no frills, just best practices and ideas that actually work Filled with practical tips, best practices, and real-world techniques, The Compassionate Geek is a quick read with equally fast results.Here's what you'll find: Best practices for communicating with email, including examples, the four intrinsic qualities of great service providers, best practices for communicating using chat and texting, how to listen so you'll understand, how to keep your emotions in check, a flow chart for handling user calls, what to do when the user is wrong, and how to work with the different generations in the workplace. All of the information is presented in a straightforward style that you can understand and use right away. There's nothing "foo-foo," just down-to-earth tips and best practices learned from years of working with I.T. pros and end-users.