Customers Rock!

Focusing on customers, their experiences, and how businesses can make sure their customer experiences rock!

The Golden Rule for Customers

Posted by Becky Carroll on March 22nd, 2007

golden-rule.jpgMany organizations struggle over which rules to create when it comes to dealing with customers and their concerns.  

“What if a customer says …?” 

“What do I do when the customer won’t …?”

Whether we are in customer service, sales, or marketing, anyone who deals directly with customers will reach a point where there is a conflict.  Entire books have been written on how to treat customers better.

Jim Kleinfelder had a simple rule that he instituted for his company with respect to dealing with their customers (clients).  Kleinfelder, Inc. is a privately-held professional services firm specializing in environmental and geotechnical engineering.  Founding his business in 1961 as a materials testing service, Jim saw that while the company needed to be flexible enough to adjust to client needs, it also should adhere to a set of core values: honesty; integrity; respect for all individuals; exceptional client service.

Jim Kleinfelder’s golden rule when it came to a conflict with clients was this:

It’s not who’s right, it’s what’s right. 

Forget about you and me – it’s about the end result to be achieved.  Fourteen years after Jim’s retirement, this legacy is still alive and well at Kleinfelder.

The Golden Rule for Customers is simple yet powerful.  It will support any organization building customer relationships based on integrity.  And ultimately, that will translate into loyal customers.

(Photo uploaded by Scanty)

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  • One Response to “The Golden Rule for Customers”

    1. Donor Power Blog Says:

      What to do if your donor is wrong

      If you decide to empower your donors (in fact, even if you don’t) you’ll sooner or later come into conflict with a donor: Someone may want you to do something that’s not in your mission. Or a donor may seek

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