Diwali Shopping!! - Customer service and safety!!

Went for Diwali purchases on Oct 2nd…supposedly to a "Crowd free shop" - usual crowds are in the Most advts ones (Pothys. Chennai Silks, Saravanas, etc.,)

So was planning for a relaxed shopping, holding the bags, chauffering, etc, - to ensure plan would work out better, planned an early shopping.

Finally landed late in the shop and this shop had opened up to "Budget" dresses also - end result..Lost in the maze of crowd and some dishing-dashing!!!

Still managed to finally finish the shopping though throughly drained (Literally with all the sweat!!!) - Crowd management in all these shops was extra-ordinary!!
Additional people to exclusively manage the crowd, One way (Inside the shop - for in & Out; not only at the entrance), etc.,
Customer service - forget it !!! Given the crowd quite imaginable..!!

Safety - Virtually non-existant- we cant let any incident happen to wake up!!

Some possible "Extreme" measures could include - Max. shoppers, Happy shopping hours (Midnight/ early morning) , special pre-diwali season discounts, etc.,)

Customer Service

Experienced a refreshingly different customer service at Sathyam

(Heard that it was voted best Theatre for 2008);

Had booked tickets through internet; Additionally had placed a food order; During the movie, the food was delivered - to my shock, the order had only been partially fulfilled; before I could react, the
Person who had delivered the order left - not to miss the movie, I did not go out to follow up on the order.

After the movie, went up to the counter to ask about the missed order - to my surprise, the person at the counter immediately apologised, checked the delivery Schedule, (Obviously difficult to back track) - did not get into discussion or argument (Could have been difficult discussion, if he had insisted that he had delivered, and I had told that I had not received it!!) - and delivered the balance order with apologies from the manager!!

Me being me…thanked the person and moved on!!!

Being in the service industry, have realised that "Exceptionally" something could go wrong, but the key thing is to resolve and move on!!
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So you think you know your English - Check it out!!!

Here is a list of 27 common english words..do you know to spell these out correctly

Click on http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/commonmisspelled.html to take the test..- Did the results will surprise you!!

Even if all the words are very common words, the options will confuse us while answering.

Good learning, Right!!

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Marriage and success!!

During interactions with Friends, colleagues in office, one topic which always comes back is on Spouse relationship / Interaction (Be it boy or girl). So I am dedicating space in Good to Great editions for useful tips for "Successful interactions with your spouse"!

There is an emotional connection to this wonderful relationship and that is what makes the difference between all other interactions that we have. So today we start off with one important aspect - Communication , read that as Listening skills

Lesson # 1: Listening skills

Good listening skills lead to improved communication in a marriage.
1. Don't Interrupt
Let your spouse finish what they are saying. If this is a problem and you interrupt a lot, find someway to remind yourself to keep quiet. Some people put their chin in their hand as a sign to themselves to not speak til their mate is finished talking.

2. Keep an Open Mind
Don't judge. Jumping to conclusions or looking for the right or wrong in what is being said prevents you from listening. Think before you say anything in response, especially if it is an emotional reaction.

3. Make Listening a Priority
Listen without planning on what you are going to say in response. Let go of your own agenda. Be aware that you need to listen. Make eye contact. Pay attention by not looking at the TV or glancing at the newspaper or finishing up a chore.

4. Use Feedback Technique
Let your partner know that you heard what they said by using a feedback technique and restating what was said. Say something like "I hear you saying ...." Be open to the possibility that you didn't hear clearly what your spouse was saying.

5. Watch Non-Verbal
Be aware of non-verbal signs and clues - both yours and those of your mate. These include shrugging your shoulders, tone of voice, crossing arms or legs, nodding, eye contact or looking away, facial expressions (smile, frown, shock, disgust, tears, surprise, rolling eyes, etc.), and mannerisms (fiddling with papers, tapping your fingers). 55% of the message is delievered through non-verbal signs.

6. Blocks to Listening
Try not to fall into these patterns of listening: mind reading, rehearsing, filtering, judging, daydreaming, advising, sparring, being right, changing the subject, stonewalling, and placating.

7. Stay Focused
Focus on the main points that your spouse is talking about. It's ok to ask questions to clarify what you thought you heard.

8. Gender Differences
Although not true for everyone, men and women generally communicate differently. Being aware can enhance your listening skills. Men often share because they want to give information or solve a problem. Women tend to talk to connect with someone or to get information. Women usually talk more about relationships than men. Men are often more concerned about details than women.

9. Show Respect
Respect your spouse's point of view, even if you disagree with what is being said.

10. Advice & Talking
Don't give advice unless asked for it. You can't listen and talk at the same time. Feelings are neither right or wrong.
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Law of the Garbage truck

One day I hopped into a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly.

So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital.!"

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call " The Law Of The Garbage Truck".

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’l dump it on you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the street.

The bottom line is that successful people don’t let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so ……love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don’t.

Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it!
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Laughter the Best medicine LITTLE OLD LADY DRIVER

An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?
Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer: Don't have one?
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Older Woman: I can't do that.
Officer: Why not?
Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see.
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman: Murdered the owner?
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
Don't Mess With Old Ladies
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