| Is "walking the talk" a tired old cliché | | | | challenge your authority is when they see that |
| or a bold new concept? Very few managers | | | | you are not practicing what you preach. Keep in |
| today are receiving formal management training. | | | | mind that your employees are your primary |
| As a result, many are poor communicators and | | | | customers. Treat them with the same respect |
| weak in their delegation and leadership skills. | | | | and caring service that you deliver to your |
| According to a Gallup poll, 25% of U.S. employees | | | | external customers. Remember that you set the |
| would fire their bosses if they could. Why? | | | | tone for your entire department. Your employees |
| Because many managers set high service | | | | are watching you! |
| standards for their employees, yet fail to abide | | | | ### |
| by those same standards. | | | | Debra J. Schmidt, also known as the Loyalty |
| If you are a manager, you are in an excellent | | | | LeaderÂ(R), is an author, consultant, |
| position to lead by example. Your employees will | | | | corporate trainer and professional speaker. She |
| only respect your authority if they observe your | | | | helps companies boost their profits by leading the |
| excellent customer service skills on a daily basis. | | | | way to greater customer, employee and brand |
| Customer loyalty must be a top-down initiative. | | | | loyalty. Debra is in demand as one of the nation's |
| Here are five ways you can earn greater respect | | | | top customer loyalty experts -- helping clients |
| and increase employee loyalty: | | | | keep more customers, retain more employees, |
| -Always give performance reviews and salary | | | | get more referrals and sell more products. |
| increases on the promised dates. Employees have | | | | As the owner of Loyalty LeaderÂ(R) Inc., |
| those dates memorized. They won't feel valued | | | | Debra provides training, consulting and keynote |
| and will resent you if their review dates are | | | | addresses for Fortune 500 companies, small |
| postponed or forgotten | | | | businesses, professional organizations and trade |
| -Have empathy for your employees. Show | | | | associations throughout the United States. She |
| compassion by being flexible with hours and time | | | | has developed customer service standards and |
| off so they can tend to family emergencies or | | | | delivered training for companies such as |
| illnesses. | | | | Northwestern Mutual, Miller Brewing Company, |
| -Be a mentor and coach by sharing your | | | | Wells Fargo, Roundy's, American Family Insurance, |
| knowledge and experience. Explain to them how | | | | Kohler Co, Lucent Technologies and the Green |
| business decisions were made, especially when it | | | | Bay Packers. |
| involves them. | | | | She has a master's degree and over 25 years of |
| -Trust your employees and be willing to delegate | | | | business management and sales experience in a |
| projects based on their strengths. If you tend to | | | | wide range of industries. Debra was nominated |
| be a control freak, learn to let go and get out of | | | | for an Emmy award in 1991 and has won six |
| the habit of micro-managing people. | | | | national marketing awards. In addition to her |
| -Let your employees know they're valued. Smile | | | | monthly television appearances on Fox News in |
| at them, be approachable, remember the names | | | | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Debra has been a featured |
| of their family members and sincerely thank them | | | | guest on radio shows throughout the United |
| every chance you get. | | | | States. Her articles have appeared in hundreds of |
| The only times that employees can successfully | | | | magazines and on-line publications. |