Human value

I just passed a beauty salon on my way to the tube, my attention attracted not by the lure of a facial or manicure (I wouldn't even know how to ask—though my gnarly hands could use some attention!) but by a handwritten sign on the door. The sign apologised for a temporary lack of payment card facilities, and reminded the customer "please remember that you are the most important person in our organisation".

For all my complaints about the woeful state of the service culture in Britain, though, I'm not sure I would want to work in an organisation where I was considered less important than the customer. We're all human beings, and we all flourish when we are respected and honoured. I guess the trick is finding win-wins, where focusing on the needs of the customer doesn't entail trampling on those of the staff member?

Technorati Tags: customer_centricity, value