Monthly Archives: September 2014

Unreliability, sickies and trust

A long time ago, when I worked in London, I had a female colleague who called in sick on a Thursday every four weeks. No one thought too much of it and if we are honest, we supposed there might … Continue reading

Posted in Customer relations | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gym crackers

Our local leisure centre has had a change of provider. One well-known company has taken over the running of it from another. However, they do seem to have management problems under the new regime. In recent weeks, my wife and … Continue reading

Posted in Customer relations, Customer service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

If you are not special, you are not trying

I have had my run-ins with telecoms companies in the past, and very frustrating it has been. For the third month in a row, my business broadband provider, which is one of the smaller ones, failed to process my monthly … Continue reading

Posted in Customer service, Sales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rushing around achieving nothing

We all want to make money and have a better life. What we really need is one good business. Now I know the old adage about not putting all our eggs in one basket, but it is very difficult to … Continue reading

Posted in Business planning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Admitting our mistakes

We all make mistakes in our businesses. Usually they are not serious, and should normally mean an apology to our customers or clients. Recently I forgot a client had given me a document and I asked for it again. When … Continue reading

Posted in Customer relations, Customer service | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Encouraging the shrinking violets

When we are managing a team in business, we will have one or two people who shine more brightly. They will show their talent and volunteer for difficult work. They are great to have working with us. There may also … Continue reading

Posted in management | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Telling your clients they are wasting their money

A lot of my work with clients is helping them get out of a mess. Usually that is because they have made mistakes in dealing with their taxes or have “forgotten” to declare certain income or gains. Sometimes there is … Continue reading

Posted in Business planning, Customer relations | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Verbal understandings are not contracts

  In my business I think it is important to have agreements in writing with my clients so that they know exactly what I will be doing for them in conducting their affairs (and what I will not be doing). … Continue reading

Posted in Business planning, Fraud | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment