I just returned from a perfect little beach weekend with my hubby. (I tell you this not to rub it in –since it’s a snowy wasteland in most of the US — but because it’s crucial to the story). Most of the restaurants there have signs that invite you to sit anywhere you’d like. Once you’re in your chosen seat, a server will come over, give you menus, and start the whole dining process – easy peasy. At nearly every meal, I watched countless people sit down and get visibly frustrated when a server wasn’t at their side immediately. I mean huffing and tapping and craning their necks.
At 7 months pregnant, I can completely relate with the need to get a glass or water or an appetizer but take a look around you, people! You’re at the beach. With a view at your lovely little chosen table. And the moon is full and glowing bright orange and how about you just watch that sucker rise up into the sky while you wait for that gal who you aren’t going to tip much to anyways? Can you take a breath and realize you are on va-ca-tion?!
Look, Amazon Prime has officially spoiled me. Thanks to their amazing service, I can no longer stand a shipping process that takes longer than 3 business days. I know that I pay more (in my Prime fee) for this fast and speedy shipping but it’s worth it to me and I make it happen. AND, Amazon OFFERS it. They want to give me the option of having my late night order in hand sooner so they put it out there.
But the restaurant never put it out there like that, did they? There isn’t a jar with a sign that says “Put an extra $20 in here and we’ll have our wait staff on you like you’re the only people in here.”
And so it goes all over the place. I’m in the business of client care services. My team and I work hard to attend to the needs of our clients and their clients. We answer emails, share on social media, and respond to Facebook groups.
But when did it become acceptable to post a question and tag someone only to email and message them just 20 minutes later when you haven’t gotten the answer you need right nowbecause you’ve just decided you MUST have it?
Why is it okay to email a business owner and expect an immediate response at all hours of the day? Even if you live in Australia and the biz owner lives in London? (Did I mention they are abusiness owner and are probably off running their business?)
Instant gratification is a disease and social media is it’s life blood.
Shocking coming from someone who builds a business around client care? Maybe. But consider that “client care” means caring enough about everyone to answer each question thoughtfully, to research the right answer, to attend to the person in front of me at the moment (which, by the way, will be you soon).
Can we all just take a second to chill OUT?
Look, if someone is offering a response within 24 hours or even telling you that there will be constant monitoring of their Facebook group with immediate answers, by all means hold them accountable to it. (I know I do with my Amazon deliveries.)
However, if you recently sent an email/message/post and haven’t heard back, give it a few hours (or even a day) longer than you think you should. We’re all busy. And you are important.
xo
Grab a Business Booster seat and we’ll dive in. There are only a few seats left until August. One of ’em has your name on it.
