Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label attitude. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Our Front of House Can Be Your Front of House


"We are convinced we the did the right thing and picked the right company. Things are getting done that were overlooked before because we have the manpower and expertise that was lacking, and as a result, improvements are being made all the time."







Good Morning Folks,

What an awesome week we had entertaining over 200 candidates who braved the winter weather to “audition” to join our GREAT team here at The Happiest Place To Work On Earth – FSO J

But while we greeted some of the most talented folks on the planet, it was our greeters, the FSO Front Of The House team that were the most admired stars of the day. In our house, our guests were greeted with the excitement and buzz of our office and the majority of them commented about what a GREAT vibe they felt from the second they walked off the elevator. Ahhhh, hospitality – that is what we are all about!!

Since we outsource our Front of House team from ourselves, I want to brag about it today and tell you why it's deserved all that attention and kudos... why we’re different and so special.


If your company doesn't have that "vibe" from the moment your guests arrive, you may be putting your brand reputation at stake. How goes that saying "you never get a second chance to make  first impression."


Our front of house is the storefront for your organization. Our team brings your brand values to life and make visitors feel warmly welcomed. We deliver high-quality visitor experiences that perfectly reflect your values.

INFORMATIONALIST HUB™: THE CENTERPIECE OF A MEMORABLE GUEST EXPERIENCE

The Informationalist Hub is staffed and managed by FSO's specially cross-trained teams or "Informationalists" who provide an endless array of possible administrative services behind the Front Desk.

Each call answered in a warm, efficient and positive manner provides an excellent first point of contact for your clients – projecting your brand values. We create a professional ‘home’ for receptionists – nurturing their talent and offering a long-term career in the front of house.

Unlike we’ve seen with our competitors who provide a person who stays idle between visitors or calls, we ensure staff are fully utilized and constantly on-the-go. Our Informationalists are trained to support everything from Meet & Greet to meeting room bookings, supply management, invoice reconciliation, scanning and hot desk/hoteling management services. Innovative expansion of services include: social media support, remote worker co-ordination, help desk overflow services and presentation services.

CORPORATE CONCIERGE
Every organization looks to make a great First Impression and FSO's Concierge Associates are all about that first smile, service and information delivered as an ambassador for the organization. FSO ensures our customer service oriented staff perform at 5-star levels to make that front desk experience a truly warm and memorable experience.

(re)IMAGINE LOBBY RECEPTIONIST SERVICES TO A CONCIERGE DESK AND EXPAND CAPABILITIES:
• Local area information
• Car & Limo booking
• Restaurant booking
• Drop off & Pick up Laundry services
• Shoe shines
• Charging station for electronics and phones
• Spare pens and stationery for guest emergency needs
• "Seasonal Service Program" 
(water bottles, sunscreen, hand-sanitizer, umbrellas, mints, etc)

Best of all, while one vendor may offer you a standard receptionist or does reception and not mail, we do it all. Our clients don't see us as their vendor but as a true strategic partner that always has their back, anywhere they need us.

Whether you wish to increase employee productivity, enhance your employee’s work/life balance or attract and retain the best talent - our Corporate Concierge services are designed to make your employees’ time at work easier, rewarding and more productive. 


Our dedicated team of experienced concierge associates with their highly valued contacts work tirelessly to help you get things done. So you can get the things you need to get done in your business.


Here's what customers are saying:
"The level of energy they emit is contagious."
 

"FSO can pull high-quality people out of a hat where and when needed"
 
 
"They have done well by us. People show up and work gets done. The front desk changed to outsourced model and is very successful."
 

"Since it's not our core competency so it’s nice to have someone else who is managing it and know show to hire and train in that type of role.”
 

"I get more attention that with the previous vendor. Partners are happier with saving money and they like the FSO people better”  
“I couldn’t be happier with my decision and when I walk in the door and present this building to my customers.”
 

"Our staff is more responsive, trained better and deliver higher level of customer service."
It's time to discover the better service and lower costs you deserve front of house. Let us prove how we make an unexpected experience the expected experience.

Talk to us. WITNESS us. Let's educate you briefly about what is working for other companies and how we save our current clients money; it could work for you. Call me directly at 212-204-1170.

Thanks again to everyone who put the word out and brought in referrals. Don’t be shy and keep those referrals coming. Positions are still openThe more the merrier!

From our wonderful FSO Family have a GREAT day, *light up a nation*, be happy and… Love Life!


Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the second consecutive year, FSO's 
growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives. Learn more about what differentiates FSO here.






Monday, November 11, 2013

How to Get Human Customer Service


"Of course at FSO, you can always count on getting a live person to help you."







Good Morning Folks,

Have you ever had a problem with a company and wished you could just get a person on the phone? Yeah, me too!
According to Steve Anderson, "Even with all the technology at our disposal sometimes it is faster, easier, and creates a much better customer service experience when you can actually talk to a customer service agent. But, it can often be difficult to find the right number to call."
That’s why you need to bookmark GetHuman.com. This site does one thing really well. It maintains an easily searchable list of over 8,000 company customer service phone numbers that, in most cases, connects you with a real live person.
It also provides advice and shortcuts on how to get through voice menus as well as tips on how to receive good service. You can also see reviews left by others and leave your own reviews about your experience with a company for others to see.
The site does have quite a few ads displayed between blocks of information so just make sure you click on the information you want and not an ad.
GetHuman.com also works on your mobile phone. No special phone necessary. Any Internet-enabled phone can use GetHuman.com by using your browser to navigate to the website. When you visit on your cell phone, you’ll see a mobile version of the site that is fitted to a smaller screen.
If you have an iPhone or an Android device, you can download the free GetHuman App from the respective stores. The app has customer service phone numbers for major businesses, and the steps for getting a live person – just like the website. But unlike the site, the app is on your phone, meaning that you can contact customer support from wherever you are. The app dials the phone number for you after suggesting how to talk to a real person."

Of course at FSO, you can always count on getting a live person to help you.

Have a GREAT day. Love LIFE!








Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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“If failure is not an option, then neither is success.” 
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Steve Anderson is the leading authority on insurance agency technology. He is a prolific writer known for his knack for translating “geek speak” into easily understood concepts. Check out his free weekly newsletter “TechTips” and other resources for the insurance industry on his website.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Inspire ME Friday: Happiness Is A Happy Boss

"Regardless of what it says on your job description, your real job is to make your boss successful. There are no exceptions to this rule. None."








Good Morning Folks,

Geoffrey James' "Sales Source" *(@Sales_Source) (formerly "Sales Machine" on CBS) is the world's most-visited sales-oriented blog. 

Geoff's recent INC column, "8 Core Beliefs of Extraordinary Bosses," drew a flood of responses. 

But there's one thing he didn't mention: An extraordinary boss communicates his expectations clearly to his team. That way, everyone understands what it will take to make your company succeed.

With that in mind: If you are the boss, you'll want to share this column with your team, because it will make your job a heck of a lot easier. And if by chance you're not the boss, memorize this column-because it contains the key to long-term success

==> 8 Ways To Keep Your Boss Happy By Geoffrey James

Here are the rules for keeping your boss happy:

1. Be true to your word.
Your boss wants to trust you. Really. Therefore, whenever you accept an assignment, follow through religiously, even fanatically. Do what you say you're going to do. Never overcommit, and avoid hedging your bets with vague statements like "I'll try" and "maybe." Instead, make your word carry real weight.

2. No surprises, ever.
The secret fear of every boss is that employees are screwing up but are not saying anything about it. So even if you're afraid some bad news might upset your boss, make sure he's informed. Note: If your boss consistently "shoots the messenger," you can ignore this rule-because his behavior shows he doesn't really want to be in the know.

3. Be prepared on the details.
Your boss wants to believe you're competent and on top of things. That's why she sometimes picks an aspect of your job and begins randomly asking penetrating questions. Therefore, whenever you're meeting with the boss, have the details ready so you can answer these queries with grace and aplomb.

4. Take your job seriously.
Bosses appreciate individuals who truly care about what they do and willing to take the time to achieve a deep understanding of their craft. Bosses need people who have unique expertise. You don't have to be a pro at everything, but you should definitely have a specific area of knowledge that your boss values.

5. Have your boss's back.
When you see your boss about to make a foolish decision, it's your responsibility to attempt to convince him to make a different one. Make your best case, and express yourself clearly. However, once the decision is actually made, do your best to make it work-regardless of whether you think it was the right one.

6. Provide solutions, not complaints.
Complainers are the bane of your boss's existence. Nothing is more irritating or more boring than listening to somebody kvetch about things that they're not willing to change.  So never bring up a problem unless you've got a solution to propose-or are willing to take the advice the boss gives you.

7. Communicate in plain language.
Bosses are busy people and have neither the time nor the inclination to wade through piles of biz-blab, jargon and weasel words. When dealing with your boss, speak and write in short sentences, use the fewest words possible to make a point, and make that point clear and easily understandable.

8. Know your real job.
Regardless of what it says on your job description, your real job is to make your boss successful. There are no exceptions to this rule. None.

And, by the way: Your boss's real job is to make you more successful. The reversal of these priorities is the source of almost all organizational problems.

Have a safe, happy and healthy weekend as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.








Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer



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“Being able to be truly happy at work is one of the keys to being happy in life”
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Monday, October 21, 2013

FSO: Building Great Leaders to Make a Great Organization Even Greater


"TRUE leadership is the ability to inspire others to greatness beyond their expectations. "







Good Morning Folks,

I don't often blog to toot our own horn, but because we have so much great "stuff" happening at FSO that I simply cannot keep it a secret.

In order to guarantee perfection, protect the brand and ensure future growth, it is imperative that we “FSO-ize” our new staff who will be supporting my legacy and vision across the country

We recently held a (re) IMAGINE SUMMIT with over 40 hand-selected Experience Managers and Leads attended a highly energetic and intensive program from Oct 14th – Oct 15th at FSO Headquarters and via Sypke for those few that couldn't attend.

The goal? To achieve a solid foundation, solid work force and team players who have the “can do attitude” that makes FSO so special.

More importantly, we wanted each and every person who flew in to New York for this special event to come out feeling completely energized, excited and pumped to work for us and spread the word and energy back across their regions. The two day program provided a wonderful opportunity for our new starters and representatives to experience the FSO love fest and Personal, Passionate and Productive culture firsthand!

Of course they are out with clients every day so they bring a "field real" perspective.

One manager noted "having come back to the industry we created, every account we hold someone else had, many times waiting since we returned in 2010 until their contract with the incumbent was up for renewal to make the switch. Ultimately it’s the people, passion and what happens when no one is looking. There's is a reason we were brought on- better product at better price than anyone else. We bring the passion back."

So what it all boils down to is our corporate culture and our leaders ability to inspire others to greatness beyond their expectations.

All of us at FSO live and breath what we call the  8 “P”s:
  1. Personal
  2. Productive
  3. Passionate
  4. Positive
  5. Progressive
  6. Professional
  7. Proud
  8. Proactive




FSO is building great leaders to make a great organization even greater. According to our Chief Inspiration Officer "Dr. Phil" (Levy, this) TRUE leadership is the ability to inspire others to greatness beyond their expectations. He argues...
  • There is no one style of leadership.
  • Great leaders are authentic and are perceived as genuine.
  • Great leaders style should be one that they are comfortable with and that maximizes their strengths and minimizes their weaknesses.
  • Great leaders  an interest, respect, and compassion for others.
  • Great leaders motivate with optimism, passion, confidence and humility.
  • Great leaders praise publicly and criticize privately and constructively
The effort and atmosphere at FSO is just awe-inspiring. To my staff: THANK YOU for your wonderful efforts, motivation, teamwork, leadership, care, passion and a desire to execute like no other. The list goes on but I think you get it :). And to our great clients: THANK YOU for your continued support. We appreciate your business and our ever-evolving relationship.

We have a ton of people who believe in and love what we do. It is up to our leaders to build the confidence and leadership in FSO to ensure the best-ever “skip in the step, fire in the belly and twinkle in the eye” coupled with delivering the three “Ps”.

It is winning time. It is time for all of us to put on our thinking caps; smile; laugh; lead and show our newest family members the excitement and enthusiasm behind winning the largest prize the industry has seen!

As I reflect on another action-packed week "fso-izing", I m reminded that our business and our company is built on great people who care. Coupled with the best knowledge and tenure this industry has ever seen, we are unstoppable. we are not perfect, but we will strive for perfection each day to perform for FSO

On that good note, make every day count and enjoy your week.

Have a GREAT day, and...




Love Life!





Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  


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“It’s important to be optimistic and to call stakeholders to a purpose bigger than themselves.”  ~~Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
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Thursday, September 12, 2013

LinkUP Thursday: Do Happier Employees Really Mean Happier Customers?



"The trifecta is this: happy, high-performing employees, happy customers and stunning business results. "










Good Morning Folks,

On LinkUP Thursdays we connect you to the thought leadership of others and articles I've discovered online that matter.

There are so many times where I walk into a place of business and judging by the looks on the employees faces, I get a sense of how my experience will be. Often, if they are in a bad mood I tend to avoid them and just want to leave. On the other hand when I meet an enthusiastic employee, it makes me feel great because I can feel their sincerity and it makes me want to stay longer.  

That in mind, I share a very useful article by Michael Hinshaw.

==> Do Happier Employees Really Mean Happier Customers? by Michael Hinshaw

Conventional wisdom says not just "yeah" but "hell, yeah."

That said, an issue with the "conventional wisdom" is that people rarely question it. And since this is a question I was asked earlier this week - and my response predictably slotted into the "hell yeah" quadrant - I thought it only fair to dig a little deeper.

Do happier employees really mean happier customers? 

Without giving too much away, the results of my exploration will almost certainly surprise you. Not because happy employees don't mean happier customers (in general they do). But because of the potentially worrisome connections between employee performance and happiness, and customer engagement.

No Shocker: High Employee Engagement Yields Good Business Results. (But...)

Earlier thismonth, RagingWire - a data center firm that boasts the highest customer loyalty scores in their industry - published an excellent blog post about employee engagement and customer experience. 

They feel these scores wouldn't be possible without a real dedication to employee experience, which they've encapsulated into 10 handy tips (see them at right). It's hard not to agree. After all, it seems logical that companies with a commitment to employee satisfaction, development, and well-being would have at least some market advantage.

But these aren't exactly new ideas. Gallup, for example, has been promoting the 12 Elements of Great Managing - which are all about inspiring top performance in employees - since at least the '90s. And their latest Q12™ research quantifies the (significant) gap between companies at the top and bottom quartiles of employee engagement. In it, they found that organizations in the top quartile had:

22% higher profitability,
21% higher productivity,
10% higher customer metrics,
37% less absenteeism, and
Up to 65% less turnover.

No brainer, right? Faced with numbers like these, what company wouldn't think that employee engagement should be a top priority? What we want to know, though, is if happier employees mean happier customers.

Since the top employee-engagement groups beat the bottom by only 10% in customer metrics, it seems the answer is a resounding "maybe." What gives?

The Fly in the Ointment: Are Your Lowest-Performance Employees Also Your Happiest and Most Engaged?

The title of RagingWire's blog post "Would Your Employees Recommend You?" reminded me of a recent Harvard Business Review post, titled Your Least Engaged Employees Might Be Your Top Performers. In it, the author quotes from recent research from Leadership IQ which states that in 42% of companies studied, low-engagement employees outperform high-engagement employees. You may have to read that line twice. I did.

Yet reading the research, a crystal-clear picture of these high-engagement, low-performance employees emerges. They are happy and engaged, in part because they actually aren't held that accountable and/or don't have to work as hard as high performers. Expectations are lower, and their jobs are easier. As a result, they're even more motivated to "deliver 100 percent at work" than high- and middle-performers.

These higher-performance, lower-engagement employees care a great deal about their work, have loads of intrinsic motivation, and lots of talent - but often don't feel empowered, encouraged, or recognized.

Bottom Line? Happier Employees Do Mean Happier Customers. But if They Aren't Held Accountable, Your Business Will Suffer.

Between the Gallup and Leadership IQ research, it's easy to think these two pieces of research conflict. I'd suggest the answers are a bit more nuanced, and point in a direction that may help explain why customer metrics track less with employee engagement.

While higher-engagement/lower-performance employee want nothing more than to please your customers, they may not be as willing (or as able) to make the difficult choices sometimes required to satisfy customers and meet business objectives.

Which brings us back to the question at hand, and the "dangers" of conventional wisdom. Because while happy employees do help deliver happier customers, high-performing employees can help to deliver happier customers and business results.

The trifecta is this: happy, high-performing employees, happy customers and stunning business results. If you're like the most successful firms I've worked with, getting there means aligning your reward systems with your customers wants and needs - and ensuring that your desired outcomes are clearly defined, and that everyone is held accountable for their results.

Get that in place, and it gets easier to imagine all your employees contributing to customer happiness - boosting customer metrics, while driving profitability and productivity along the way.

Which, when it comes to customer loyalty, might help you go from reading about companies like RagingWire to becoming a company like RagingWire.

For those who have worked with me for years or even just a few months know that my message is always consistent. Our love for our clients and staff will never be compromised, and I could not be more excited to continue to support fulfilling your dreams. 

I promised in January that “this is our year.” Just shy of fourth quarter, I can say with tons of confidence and security to my employees that we have delivered and will continue to deliver. 

The entire landscape of our company has changed in a very short period time adding major opportunity for advancement to our entire staff.

Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.








Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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“Opportunity has power over all things. ”— Sophocles
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Thursday, August 29, 2013

LinkUP Thursday: Catch Up With Mitch's Favorite Reads

"Assembling a winning team is every manager’s dream. But what do we know about what it takes to get there? 




Good Morning Folks,

One of the things I love about the web is how through sharing and sending and receiving articles, one can cut to the chase and consume a lot of information in a short time.

In between blog posts I am sharing heavy from some of my own influencers who include iconic CEOs of world famous brands, on on my private Twitter and LinkedIn networks and I urge you to connect with me, follow me by clicking the links at the bottom of this article.

Meanwhile here are some of my favorite discoveries the last two weeks that many of you might have missed owing to summer vacations and of course, the pace at which we are all working.

Some of the topics covered in the articles linked below: 
One skill of great leaders is that they create a "wow" when they meet new people for the first time, by sharing their career and life story....  
Assembling a winning team is every manager’s dream. But what do we know about what it takes to get there? 
Company culture can be a huge motivator for people. At it’s best, it can provide a sense of belonging through shared values and an intangible, emotional belief that we are on a shared. journey 
Good leaders have passion. They have a vision. And they also have a few other hard-to-find qualities. 
Every leader wishes they could be both liked and respected at the same time. However, there are times when we must choose one over the other 
Older workers faced an uphill battle finding work after the Great Recession, but the tide may be turning as employers are now looking to add older and more skilled workers to their payrolls.
There's a lot here but it's a quick scan and if you only read one article that can change your outlook and inform a better performance and sense of being- I've done myself proud.

Remember, we can change the course of our life by having the right attitude. By being willing to do what most other people are not willing to do you were able to set yourself apart. This gets you noticed and opens up all kinds of other opportunities.

At work, in life as well, our attitudes define the results. Fortunately attitudes are not written in stone - we can adjust them, fine tune them to perfection. Cheers!


Have a GREAT day as I look forward to seeing all of you soon.








Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer

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"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage"

~~ Anais Nin
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About the Author:
Welcome to the fastest growing onsite outsourcing company in the nation! Led by Mitch Weiner, co-founder and industry pioneer, FSO is "the" award winning enterprise-wide outsourcing and people solutions firm servicing a multitude of clients across North America.

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