|
 |
|
Are Industry Best Practices Getting You The Results You Expected?
Are Industry Best Practices Getting You The Results You Expected?
Best and good Practices in the support industry are plentiful. These mostly process practices are guidelines for focusing more on “what you should be doing” rather than “how you should be doing it” with little to no regard for the influential environmental factors. Purposeful Practices are an innovative way to look at these widely accepted processes with an emphasis on achieving a desired, measurable end result. Purposeful Practices are always open to investigation and continuous improvement to increase the value of these services to the business.
|
Change or Irrelevance: Career Changing Technologies
Rapid, breathtaking technology advances are forcing radical changes not only in how IT organizations function, but also in terms of their culture, leadership, and even careers. Combined with business, social and global trends, as well as technology investing (spending), IT organizations must accelerate their organizational change plans in order to survive and thrive. They must assess and plan for complete transformation - strategy, structure, people, processes, and tools.
Are we preparing our IT professionals to plan for and make these changes? Are we helping them position themselves and their organizations for success in this dynamically evolving world?
This Cutter Consortium article assess and addresses the impacting wave of the rapidly changing IT and business trends on traditional IT careers, positions, and skill sets.
This wake-up call is best described by a quote from four-star US General (Ret.) Eric Shineski: "If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevance even less."
|
The “Business” Service Leadership Agenda
BSMReview.com
Next Practices in Business Service Management
The “Business” Service Leadership Agenda by Peter J. McGarahan
The Defining Moment of Truth
Why do some companies consistently exceed their business customers’ expectations and others fail to meet their customer’s basic demands and needs? Why do smaller, flexible companies seem to care more about the business impact of customer service than larger credit card, banking and cable organizations? Does the exuberant profits and size of these larger companies (“Too Big To Fail”) create a situation where customer service is no longer a competitive differentiator nor a strategic imperative? MSN Money’s fifth annual Customer Service Survey was recently published revealing the top ten companies earning a place in their Customer Service Hall of Shame and Hall of Fame. The “business” service differentiation comes down to knowledgeable and friendly staff, available and responsive staff, trust, transparency, genuine care and understanding of their customer. Simple you say, obviously not!
|
The Service Leadership Agenda
The Service Leadership Agenda
The Defining Moment of Truth
Why do some companies consistently exceed their customers’ expectations and others fail to meet their customer’s basic demands and needs? Why do smaller, flexible companies seem to care more about customer service than larger credit card, banking and cable organizations? Does the exuberant profits and size of these larger companies (“Too Big To Fail”) create a situation where customer service is no longer a competitive differentiator nor a strategic imperative?
|
Learn How to Create a Highly Efficient and Effective Support Organization
SupportIndustry.com Webinar:
Best Practice Strategies for Creating a Highly Efficient
and Effective Support Organization
In case you missed it, SupportIndustry.com recently conducted a webinar on Best Practice Strategies for Creating a Highly Efficient and Effective Support Organization, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive by attendees. In response to this, we are offering the on-demand version to you to watch at your convenience. More information about the event is below!
|
Professionalism in the Contact Center
What is professionalism anyway & why does it matter?
Dana Pigford, founder of Professionalism Matters, Inc, defines professionalism as "being responsible and accountable and treating people the way you would like to be treated."1 Service and support consultants, Pete McGarahan and Ric Mims, in an excellent article, "The Essence of Professionalism,"2 suggest that professionalism is composed of such values as courtesy, respect in dealing with clients and, "Do they take pride in their appearance, their work ethic, and the quality of the work they do?"3 In addition, they observe that "In simpler days, professionalism had everything to do with customer service, relationship building, and creating the foundation for effective, persuasive communication across all levels of the organization."4 They also suggest that a good definition of professionalism "...isn’t your appearance and your aptitude, its attitude: knowing what to do, and doing it with passion and purpose."5
|
A CRM Approach to Business Service Management?
A CRM Approach to Business Service Management?
by Peter J. McGarahan
I have been designing, delivering and supporting IT services for most of my 27 years as an IT professional. Time and time again I’ve encountered IT organizations that didn’t keep the customer or their business top of mind when designing and delivering services. Instead, they delivered “cool” technologies or strategies that met IT’s expectation and requirements, but didn’t directly benefit the business customers.
|
Are You Missing The Point About Customer Care?
Are You Missing The Point About Customer Care?
By Peter J. McGarahan
Inbound Magazine - Issue 01:2010
Design customer centric services that improve service deliver.
|
Designing and Delivering Customer-Centric IT Services
Pete McGarahan, founder and president of McGarahan & Associates
OUR TAKE - Advocates Speak Up - IT Service and Support
"Our Take" - Blog
Arguably the most famous support call of the 20th century was, "Houston, we have a problem." Care to challenge my claim? Let me know if you think something else deserves the title.
That line was certainly made more famous by the movie Apollo 13 which happens to be our guest Advocate's favorite movie. Pete McGarahan used the story of ingenuity and out-of-the-box thinking to tackle the issue of using technology to solve technology support questions.
Pete speaks up today to challenge us to work on the "art of possibilities." Take a read on his fresh ideas on how to approach 2011 with a renewed sense of urgency and awareness.
That's his take. What's your take?
. . . . . Gary Lemke, Chief Customer Advocate
|
Service Leadership
August 17th, 2010
 “My research debunks the myth that many people seem to have . . . that you become a leader by fighting your way to the top. Rather, you become a leader by helping others to the top. Helping your employees is as important, and many times more so, than trying to get the most work out of them.” ~ William Cohen, The Stuff of Heroes: The Eight Universal Laws of Leadership.
I just read a great article in Support World Magazine by Peter McGarahan titled “Service Leadership ” for full access to Part 1 click HERE / Part 2 click HERE.
Here’s a short excerpt…Pete writes…. -In my many leadership positions and interactions with support professionals around the world, effective leadership comes down to one thing: people care when they know that you care!
In recent Gallup polls regarding the state of the U.S. worker, it is shocking and disappointing to see how many people are truly disengaged in the workplace. In support organizations, the biggest differentiator between organizations that excel at service delivery, customer service, and delivering business value and the ones that always struggle is leadership. Leaders who approach their responsibilities with energy, passion, and intelligence will always make a difference in people’s lives.
These leaders never forget: Where they came from, What it took to get where they are, and The important lessons they learned along the way.
They are particularly resourceful and utilize trusted, experienced mentors for advice, direction, and support. What’s even more interesting is the fact that these leaders-successful, happy people-are humble! They never let their egos convince them that they are the smartest people in the room, and they never let arrogance stand in the way of being a good listener and a continuous learner.
Obvious - Common Sense - old news…you say?! Well yes… it is, but rare and wonderful is the leader whose life emulates these principles. And blessed, happy and engaged are the few lucky souls who work with that leader.
Kirk Out
|
[ Page
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
]
Next Page
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Change or Irrelevance: Career Changing Technologies
07/14/2011
Rapid, breathtaking technology advances are forcing radical changes not only in how IT organizations function, but also in terms of their culture, leadership, and even careers. Combined with business, social and global trends, as well as technology investing (spending), IT organizations must accelerate their organizational change plans in order to survive and thrive. They must assess and plan for complete transformation - strategy, structure, people, processes, and tools.
Are we preparing our IT professionals to plan for and make these changes? Are we helping them position themselves and their organizations for success in this dynamically evolving world?
This Cutter Consortium article assess and addresses the impacting wave of the rapidly changing IT and business trends on traditional IT careers, positions, and skill sets.
This wake-up call is best described by a quote from four-star US General (Ret.) Eric Shineski: "If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevance even less."
The “Business” Service Leadership Agenda
07/14/2011
BSMReview.com
Next Practices in Business Service Management
The “Business” Service Leadership Agenda by Peter J. McGarahan
The Defining Moment of Truth
Why do some companies consistently exceed their business customers’ expectations and others fail to meet their customer’s basic demands and needs? Why do smaller, flexible companies seem to care more about the business impact of customer service than larger credit card, banking and cable organizations? Does the exuberant profits and size of these larger companies (“Too Big To Fail”) create a situation where customer service is no longer a competitive differentiator nor a strategic imperative? MSN Money’s fifth annual Customer Service Survey was recently published revealing the top ten companies earning a place in their Customer Service Hall of Shame and Hall of Fame. The “business” service differentiation comes down to knowledgeable and friendly staff, available and responsive staff, trust, transparency, genuine care and understanding of their customer. Simple you say, obviously not!
The Service Leadership Agenda
11/21/2011
The Service Leadership Agenda
The Defining Moment of Truth
Why do some companies consistently exceed their customers’ expectations and others fail to meet their customer’s basic demands and needs? Why do smaller, flexible companies seem to care more about customer service than larger credit card, banking and cable organizations? Does the exuberant profits and size of these larger companies (“Too Big To Fail”) create a situation where customer service is no longer a competitive differentiator nor a strategic imperative?
Learn How to Create a Highly Efficient and Effective Support Organization
04/21/2011
SupportIndustry.com Webinar:
Best Practice Strategies for Creating a Highly Efficient
and Effective Support Organization
In case you missed it, SupportIndustry.com recently conducted a webinar on Best Practice Strategies for Creating a Highly Efficient and Effective Support Organization, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive by attendees. In response to this, we are offering the on-demand version to you to watch at your convenience. More information about the event is below!
Professionalism in the Contact Center
04/21/2011
What is professionalism anyway & why does it matter?
Dana Pigford, founder of Professionalism Matters, Inc, defines professionalism as "being responsible and accountable and treating people the way you would like to be treated."1 Service and support consultants, Pete McGarahan and Ric Mims, in an excellent article, "The Essence of Professionalism,"2 suggest that professionalism is composed of such values as courtesy, respect in dealing with clients and, "Do they take pride in their appearance, their work ethic, and the quality of the work they do?"3 In addition, they observe that "In simpler days, professionalism had everything to do with customer service, relationship building, and creating the foundation for effective, persuasive communication across all levels of the organization."4 They also suggest that a good definition of professionalism "...isn’t your appearance and your aptitude, its attitude: knowing what to do, and doing it with passion and purpose."5
A CRM Approach to Business Service Management?
04/21/2011
A CRM Approach to Business Service Management?
by Peter J. McGarahan
I have been designing, delivering and supporting IT services for most of my 27 years as an IT professional. Time and time again I’ve encountered IT organizations that didn’t keep the customer or their business top of mind when designing and delivering services. Instead, they delivered “cool” technologies or strategies that met IT’s expectation and requirements, but didn’t directly benefit the business customers.
Are You Missing The Point About Customer Care?
12/04/2010
Are You Missing The Point About Customer Care?
By Peter J. McGarahan
Inbound Magazine - Issue 01:2010
Design customer centric services that improve service deliver.
Reducing Support Costs!
06/01/2010
Reducing Support Costs with a "Shift-Left" Strategy: An Interview with Pete McGarahan
By Cinda Daly
"Arise, ye service leader! The time is now!" proclaims Pete McGarahan, an industry thought leader and respected consultant for twenty-five years. It's not a new concept that service leaders need to run their support organization like a business. Achieving that point, however, is challenging. With continuing pressures to drive down support costs, service leaders need to optimize the business model: determine what's really important, then dive deep into the detail of structure, process, people, and tools. [More]
|
|
