CUSTOMER SERVICE OF SRI LANKAN YOUTH : What is really lacking ?

                       I need to share with you two of my personal experiences on customer service. 

Last week I went to Kataragama with my family for some work. As we were fed up of the food we ate at the hotel we stayed at, Thursday night we went to a small street hotel near the Kataragama main bus stand. We ordered some food and those were served by an energetic waiter at the hotel. He was supporting us by ordering the right food and the right quantity and recommending suitable side dishes with great care. Even after the food arrived every two minutes he came and checked our dishes , refilling curries  , cracking some jokes and making our whole eating experience a memorable and joyful one.

Saturday evening when we were on the way from Kataragama we stopped at famous restaurant for tea.  There was a security guy working at the front and he was running here and there facilitating vehicles to park and drive off. As a number of vehicles coming in were large he had to run from one end to the other continuously. While doing that he was inviting vehicles passing by to stop at his restaurant. His speed was amazing and his enthusiasm in work was fascinating. 

I asked the waiter in Kataragama hotel “ How old are you ? “. He said in Sinhala “ I’m seventy four years old”. I couldn’t ask the other one at the other restaurant but I’m pretty sure he would have been well above sixty years.

 I respect how they treated me and I will remember them as great marketers. I know they were not holding a CIM diploma or a marketing degree. But they knew what they were doing.

I’m writing this to Uth Mirror because of the commitment I saw from these two which was difficult to observe from a young guy into marketing, sales or customer service. And sad to note    in the last few decades customer service among Sri Lankan youth has deteriorated drastically. 

Think ! Are you providing a service which is memorable to the recipient?

If you are a young marketer or customer service guy , first you should get away from the mentality of “ I’m doing a job for a salary”. Some youngsters think they should work only for the salary they get. It’s true you will not get the best salary in Sri Lanka all the time.  But whatever you do today is an investment for your own future. You should build your career and skills to serve others from the bottom of your heart. 

If you remember what I wrote two weeks ago ,  I questioned whether you have the passion for sales. ? Those two guys who are about seventy years old had that passion but not many who are in their twenties posses it. 

What is lacking in Sri Lankan youth is the right attitude. You should make the job your hobby and think positively of your contribution for the growth of your company. If your company grows; you will grow.

I invite you to think and absorb one thing. Treat others the way you like to be treated. Think of an excellent service you received and try to match that when you deliver your service. Even if you are not paid enough for what you do, the mental satisfaction you get will carry you a long way. 

It’s an investment. One day you will earn the dividends.