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Free Human Resource Information
Customers
Are Your Only
Source Of Job Security |
Your security and that of your company
depends on how valuable you are to your company's customers. The better you
serve them, the better you protect your career.
This heightens the importance of knowing
precisely who these people are. You need an in-depth feel for your targeted
market. What do your customers do, and how do you fit into the picture? What
are their needs? What does it take to please them? How can you contribute to
their success?
Sharpen your insights into your personal
"marketplace," and you'll see exactly what you should do to make
yourself indispensable.
Keep in mind that there are both internal
and external customers. You may deal directly with each type, but
let's focus on whom you're supposed to serve inside the
organization. It may be some other department, several people in your own
functional area, or just your direct supervisor. Maybe you've always thought
of them as coworkers, or as people you work with rather than for.
But make no mistake -- these are your clients and customers.
Too often we don't stop and think about the
full implications of this. We more or less take our jobs for granted, and
that's a risky way to run a career.
Unless you take pains to provide the best
possible service, and do so in a competitive market place (i.e., salary),
you'll find it hard to keep customers. They'll replace you with a better
service provider. In essence, somebody else will "steal your
business."
The more you allow your service to go soft,
the greater the odds you could end up in some downsizing statistics. Or, the
organization might simply decide to outsource your work, to farm it out to
some other firm that specializes in doing what you do. More than likely,
you're actually in competition with external providers who offer the same
service, whether you realize it or not. Question is, who will provide the
best bargain, you or somebody else?
You must get close -- intimately close --
to your customers. Seek regular, direct contact with them. Build a strong
relationship. Deliver the highest quality service possible. Anticipate their
needs, and develop a reputation for responsiveness.
In the final analysis, customers are your
only source of job security.
This edited article was written by Price
Pritchett in his book "New Work Habits For A Radically Changing
World." It isn't often I am impacted by an author as I was by his book.
I suggest you order a copy (1-800-992-5922 ) and circulate this article to
your staff and call me if "serving" your internal and external
customers is a "belief" you want reinforced at your firm. We have
a simple yet effective process to use to ensure this belief is
understood, accepted and acted upon.
Please call us with any of your human
resource needs and concerns.
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