Customer Service? How about Human Connection.
My mum always taught me to treat people the way I wish to be treated myself.
Well, I never wish to be treated as a “customer” or someone that must be “served”.
That doesn’t sound very fun and pretty old fashioned!
I like to be treated like a human, and have those I interact with treat me with genuine, authentic interest.
A microcosmic example of this presented itself just in time to write this article...
I just had a chance to see a pal of mine perform in London, she’s an enormously talented singer and comedienne and I’m always moved by her show (yeah maybe I cry a bit ok?!) so I came out of it riding a wave of joy and emotion.
We caught up for a minute afterwards and she asked me to wait for her in the bar.
It was a busy night but there were a couple seats available as I walked up. Before I could sit the bartender met me with this... “we are busy, we won’t get to you anytime soon, you’ll need to put your name in at the front and find a seat in the other bar area”.
SLAM!
There goes the wave of joy and emotion!
I tried to explain I was with the performer and was just going to hang out and wait for her for a few minutes.
“Do what you’d like but I won’t get to you anytime soon.”
So I kinda hung there in awkward limbo.
Another bar tender popped up behind the bar and with a big smile slid me a napkin and a water saying
“Hello! It’s crazy in here, why are you standing there?! Take a seat! What are you having?”
“Um you sure it’s ok, that chap said I...”
** eye roll ** “please sit down, sorry for the confusion, what can I get you?”
Not quite renewed joy and emotion but we were on the way!
We proceeded to have a really natural chat about her home town Milan and how I’d recently spent time in Northern Italy all while she expertly dealt with some pretty intricate cocktail making and shaking. Banging out her orders while making me feel right at home.
The whole interaction lasted maybe 6 minutes and got me back on my high before my friend came in and we went to her table.
Spot the difference?
He saw a customer he didn’t have time to serve.
She saw a human she wanted to authentically interact with.
Do you “serve customers” or connect with humans?
I’d love to hear your stories!