Have you ever walked into a room, office, or business establishment, and in a friendly… enthusiastic manner belted out “Good morningâ€, because that’s what WE’RE taught to say, and no one responded?
As a matter of fact, you could almost hear a “pin drop†because everyone was so pre-occupied on their cellphones, that they never even looked up. How did THAT make you feel?
Hi, I’m Theo Gilbert-Jamison with Performance Solutions by Design and in this article I’d like to focus on the “Value of Greeting Othersâ€. So, briefly here are my top 5 reasons that VALIDATE the value and power of greeting others.
ONE – Greeting others is a form of RESPECT. And I know that you don’t want to disrespect anyone. So, remember, a warm and friendly greeting demonstrates that you acknowledge and VALUE their presence. As a matter of fact, studies show that 73% of customers become loyal based on great service AND friendly staff.
TWO – It also establishes a warm, friendly work environment. And often sets the tone for how you want employees to treat customers and one another. So, if the goal of your organization is to be an “Employer of Choice†what better way to create a PHENONEMAL work environment than to ensure we consistently greet our customers, as well as our or fellow team members.
THREE – It demonstrates professionalism. Especially when coupled with positive eye contact, and a confident handshake – if you’re meeting someone for the first time.
FOUR – It breaks the ice! Especially if you’re in a room full of people that you don’t know. You see, greeting others with “Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, How are You Today? Or, simply Welcome — shows that you are attentive, approachable, ready, and available to help in a time of need.
And finally, FIVE – It establishes a great first impression. Especially if you consider yourself a “service†professional who aspires to steadily move up the corporate ladder. Keep in mind, you rarely get a second chance to make a first impression.
And that first impression that you make on another person especially if they greeted you FIRST and you didn’t respond is hard to change – no matter how nice or kind you consider yourself.
So, there you have it! Five powerful reasons why we should CONSISTENTLY greet EVERYONE with a warm welcome. Which isn’t hard for most people.
However, if greeting and acknowledging others is NOT your natural inclination — just think about the positive impact that you COULD be making on someone else’s day!
About the AUTHOR
Theo Gilbert-Jamison is CEO of Performance Solutions by Design, a consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia that helps organizations exceed expectations by elevating the customer experience from average to extraordinary.
She is also author of several leadership books to include: The Six Principles of Service Excellence, and The Leadership Book of Numbers, Volumes 1 & 2. Prior to launching Performance Solutions by Design in 2003, she was VP of Learning & Development with Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company where she enjoyed a 17-year career.
Theo was also a key contributor, instrumental in implementing and sustaining processes and systems that led to The Ritz-Carlton becoming a two-time recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
With extensive background in Leadership Development and Human Resources, Theo works closely with organizations, ranging from private clubs, hospitality, healthcare, education, technology, and more. On average, her books, workshops, videos, and webinars are viewed by over 150,000 people annually.