The World loves a landmark, an event, a holiday season, a moment in time. Greeting card companies especially love these milestones, because they’re usually a good reason to buy a card for someone.

Well this week is no different. In the business world, this is known as Customer Service Week. It’s a time to celebrate and recognize all stakeholders as well as refocus on the importance of customer service. So with the week halfway gone, these are 9 Quick Ideas you can still take and run with for this week and beyond:

1. Have every employee write one handwritten Thank You letter or card for a key customer – appreciating their business.
2. Have every supervisor/manager commit to writing one Thank You e-mail, letter, or card to an employee every other week – that’s 26 per year – noting appreciation for something specific the employee has done well.
3. Identify 1 improvement your organization can implement over the next 30 days in how you reward staff for high levels of customer service – align rewards with desired behaviors.
4. Convene a team of employees to identify the key issues or customer-related complaints they deal with on an ongoing basis. Commit to permanently eliminating the root cause of one of those over the next 30-60 days – benefits customers and staff as well.
5. Identify 3 core customer service metrics to gauge monthly that everyone in the organization can understand and focus on as measures of performance.
6. Create a Customer Service Book Club, and meet 1-2 times a month to discuss. We have an “unbiased” recommendation here to get started – Ask Yourself…Am I GREAT at Customer Service?
7. Do a short survey via e-mail, using a web-based tool, or even via the phone with customers asking 2-3 key questions. For example:
   • What do we do best?
   • What are the main reasons you’re our customer?
   • How can we improve our service to you?
8. Do a short survey with staff asking 2-3 key questions. For example:
   • What do you like best about the culture and work environment at our business?
   • What are the main reasons you work here?
   • How can we make this a better place to work?
9. Have the CEO or some other executive host an informal party for staff, conveying his/her appreciation for what they do.

Find some way to appreciate your staff and customers.

Like these ideas? Then check out our Customer Service Tips of the Week.