How can I make you smile today?

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District has been working on improving our customer service over the past few years.  We believe our number one customers are our students and their families.  Often times, customer service is tied to businesses that sell something.  If the customer service isn't extraordinary, the consumer may go elsewhere for the product and/or service.  Thanks to compulsory attendance, for the most part, our customers are compelled to attend our schools.  Should these compelled customers get less quality service just because they have to go to school?  I think not!  This week in our discussions around customer service, a colleague told the story of calling a company and being greeted with the following:  "Hello!  You have reach X company.  How can I make you smile today?"  To which my colleague responded, "Well, you just did!"  A first impression is so important.  But, it only goes so far.  Quality customer service must be consistent over time.

For years, my family has frequented a little "hole in the wall" restaurant that serves the best Mexican food.  We go there for the food but also because of the customer service we receive.  Their food is consistently great.  The waiters or waitresses are always friendly and wanting to please.  Over the years, they have learned our drink orders and sometimes have the drinks delivered as we are sitting down to a table.  Every so often, this restaurant is off their A game.  The meal isn't as good, and the coffee isn't as fresh as it usually is.  Guess what?! We forgive them and come back anyway.  You see, that is what providing quality customer service does.  It allows loyal customers to forgive more readily when mistakes occur.

FSUSD will continue to work on its quality customer service because we want to make everyone smile every day.  Next week, FSUSD will participate in The Great Kindness Challenge.  Please visit www.thegreatkindnesschallenge.org to download your Acts of Kindness Checklist and Toolkit.  We believe that being kind is a necessary component of providing quality customer service.

Here is how one of our schools,  Fairview Elementary, has started their challenge.  ENJOY!
Fairview Elementary--Kindness 365!