In the height of the ‘me’ generation does customer service stand a chance?
After yet another disheartening experience with a ’service’ person failing to see me (a customer) as worthy of courtesy, time and attention, I had an epiphany: Where ego is present in the workplace, customer service is doomed!
Both X and Y Generations have been raised to believe they are the centre of the universe, entitled to everything on a platter, and that everyone should be at their beck and call. When there is so much ‘me’ in a service person’s psyche, how can there be the headspace to focus on ‘you’, the customer?
Think back to the occasions when you experienced bad service and took the time to raise your concern with the person or establishment concerned. Chances are, you found yourself bombarded with a litany of reasons why they treated you with disrespect and contempt, yet never received a sincere apology. The simple (and correct) answer should be, “I’m sorry that has been your experience, let me help to rectify things”. What happened to ‘the customer is always right’? Ego, that’s what.
I think people feel it’s beneath them to be ‘of service’ to another person, when in fact as a human being there really is no greater joy than actually helping another, using your power for good not evil. When did we become so narcissistic?
Maybe as a community we should stop indulging our children, creating self-centred egomaniacs and start raising decent, caring future citizens of our communities where respect, service and an attitude of wanting to help others is a valued trait not a fault. The economy will be thankful.
