[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uel__QdPyJ4%5D
Cleveland, Ohio, once again serves host to America’s #1 Customer Service Conference: the Secret Service Summit. This unique 2 day educational experience brings together world-renowned speakers, as well as brand executives , to give you 2 memorable days of Customer eXperience education –watch video trailer.
Here are 28 customer service skills learned at the Summit:
“Absolutely outstanding! He really drove home his message.I feel privileged to have sat in on his presentations. Thank you.”
Key takeaways:
1) Culture – Your employee culture can’t be bluffed, bribed or bullied, but it will give you 
what you want; you just have to give it what it wants first. It wants context – Why are things happening? It wants predictability – What is going to happen next? It wants a positive sense of self – What is the character, the true intention and the higher purpose of the work I do and the company I do it for?
2) Leadership – Emotional commitment is what your company wants when it says it wants leadership. The key neurobiological source of emotional commitment comes from living your own deepest personal values in the relationship with your company and the environment at work.
3) Branding – Becoming a brand means transferring the sustainability of your company to your Customers, who will advertise and sell for you, and step up to protect you if you stumble or get attacked. “Branded” is a tribute, not a verb – you can’t claim it; it has to be given to you.
**MEET THE SPEAKERS OF THE SECRET SERVICE SUMMIT.
“I truly believe in changing the world through service, and obviously Holly does, too. I just want to give her a hug and thank her for not leaving me to feel like I am dancing alone.”
Key takeaways:
4) Service is a Feeling. We need to pay attention to the human needs behind the business needs. The need to be truly heard, acknowledged, remembered and respected.
5) The turtle hat. It is simple but not easy, so wearing the “turtle hat” and embodying the metaphor, reminds us to stick our necks out, have a hard shell so we don’t take things personally and be slow to respond with a negative emotional trigger.
6) The Booby Prize. Being Right Is The Booby Prize. This is the place service breaks down the fastest. If we could let go of having to be right we could actually serve people with little confrontation and upset. It doesn’t mean we don’t have guidelines; it simply makes the distinction to serve people as opposed to holding on to our righteousness
“This was my favorite presentation from both days, perhaps of the three conferences I have attended so far. This young man is so wise beyond his years and so articulate. I find him inspiring and his message very powerful.”
Key takeaways:
7) Life doesn’t always go according to plan
8) The only disability in life is a bad attitude
9) The importance of wearing your armor of positive attitude is that it is the most powerful combatant to anything life throws at you.
“Outstanding on many points… content, delivery, ability to engage audience.I could listen to Sasha talk for 2 days. Bring him back next year!”
Key takeaways:
10) The New Normal has changed Customer service forever. It’s time to find new ways to relate to Customers.
11) Empathize and advocate for your Customer’s needs publicly.
12) Social media is the environment, brand content is the recipe.
“I feel very honored to have heard his presentation. Very powerful, will stay with me for the rest of my life. I will use what I learned from him in my daily life with my family, friends and co-workers.Reon’s message is so simple, yet so incredibly profound.”
Key takeaways:
13) Having the courage to move forward in life without fear
14) The ability to truly forgive those who have wronged and/or hurt you
15) A focus perspective on what is really important in life
“Great piece to push our teams to action.Great messages, and perfect content for the end to help deal with idea overload.”
Key takeaways:
16) Win On The Basics. When looking for ways to differentiate our business it’s easy to get carried away with “wow” factors that we overlook the most powerful “wow” factor of all: be the best at what Customers value most. Your goal should be to be so good at the basics that you are cutting edge.
17) Create WIN/WIN Relationships. Market leaders and winning brands are those that are best at creating wins for Customers, employees, business partners, and the community. We should always strive to create wins, opportunities, and solutions for others. It is the ultimate power strategy in business and in life – be sure the other guy wins!
18) Take action. People in extraordinary companies have great ideas and take decisive action on them. People in mediocre companies have great ideas, too, but they never get past thinking about them, talking about them, and having meetings about them. Your ideas have no value until you take action. Stop thinking about it and DO it!
“So inspiring and goes to show that regardless of the business you are in, Customer service is so important and can be done. Loving the Customer RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE was an amazing message.”
Key takeaways:
19) If you compete in an industry where world-class Customer service is not the norm, even more the reason to make it your distinct competitive advantage.
20) You can dramatically increase employees’ service aptitude and solidify their awareness to your service vision, pillars and Nevers & Always by making it fun through interactive eLearning games, i.e. Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Matching.
21) Creating a world-class Customer service organization is a long-term commitment by the entire executive team and needs a dedicated champion, i.e. Customer Xperience Officer.
“John’s openings were some of the best examples I’ve seen him present.”
Key takeaways:
22) Companies need to systematize hospitality to make it easy for front-line employees to 
genuinely connect with each Customer
23) Online retail satisfaction is rising while brick & mortar is declining because retailers are failing at their biggest competitive advantage– building human relationships with the Customer standing in front of them.
24) Hire for attitude not aptitude
The 2013 Secret Service Systems Award Winner – Chick-fil-A The Secret Service Award recognizes Customer service excellence in three categories:
- Creating Secret Service Systems
- Creating an Experience Epiphany
- Revolutionizing their industry
Chick-fil-A has revolutionized the quick-service industry as well as best practices for world-class hospitality for nearly every industry. Some highlights of best practices of CFA that were recognized:
25) Their service vision – Making every guest feel cared for unlike anywhere else
26) The Core 4 – Create eye contact, share a smile, speak with enthusiasm, and stay connected
27) 2nd Mile Behaviors – Carry meals to the table for high-needs guests, clear trays from tables and refresh beverages every 15 minutes, and carry large orders to cars.
28) Their Culture – Their ability to get their front-line employees to be true brand evangelists.
Hope you enjoyed these pearls of wisdom enough to share.