What does it mean to be ‘hooked on customers?’ How does it propel businesses into action?
My featured podcast guest, Bob Thompson, author and CEO of Customer Think Corp, and I discuss the importance of being “hooked on customers” based on his best-selling book. We also explore customer-centric businesses, examine the ways they execute their strategies, and provide actionable recommendations for you to outperform competitors.
Bob explains that “learning to let your actions do the talking can be revolutionary to a company that struggles to create enduring customer relationships. People who own, operate, manage, or otherwise lead a company always look for ways to improve productivity, beat the competition, and ensure long-term success. Talking is cheap. Putting words and ideas into action is the key to success in the business world.” (Kudos to brands transforming customer experiences mentioned: Trader Joes, Southwest Airlines and others.)
Legendary leading customer-centric businesses:
- LISTEN to their customers’ values and feedback.
- THINK about the implications of fact-based decisions on customers
- EMPOWER employees with the freedom they need to please customers
- CREATE new value for customers without being asked
- DELIGHT customers by exceeding their expectations
There are no quick fixes. Customer-centricity takes time, determination, and company-wide commitment.
It must be maintained and constantly pursued to ensure that it becomes part of the fabric of a business. You can have an altruistic company that’s profitable too. One doesn’t replace the other. (Learn more about Both/And Thinking instead of Either/Or mindset).
In the end, the results are well worth it. Hooked on Customers helps leaders not only survive in highly competitive, overcrowded markets but dominate them, creating a legacy of success and inspiration along the way.
Press Play To WATCH Interview:
About Bob Thompson ~”Hooked On Customers”
Bob Thompson is CEO of CustomerThink Corp., an independent research and publishing firm focused on customer-centric business management, and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of CustomerThink.com, the world’s largest community dedicated to customer-centric business. Thompson is a popular international keynote speaker, blogger and author of Hooked On Customers: The Five Habits of Legendary Customer-Centric Companies (April 2014).
Learn more about Bob on his website. Connect with him on LinkedIn + Twitter.
About Stacy Sherman: Founder of Doing CX Right®
An award-winning certified marketing and customer experience (CX) corporate executive, speaker, author, and podcaster, known for DoingCXRight®. She created a Heart & Science™ framework that accelerates customer loyalty, referrals, and revenue, fueled by engaged employees and customer service representatives. Stacy’s been in the trenches improving experiences as a brand differentiator for 20+ years, working at companies of all sizes and industries, like Liveops, Schindler elevator, Verizon, Martha Steward Craft, AT&T++. Stacy is on a mission to help people DOING, not just TALKING about CX, so real human connections & happiness exist. Continue reading bio >here.
