Successful teams know that workplace irritations exist…no matter how perfect the team seems to be!
At times I hear leaders tell me that there is NO stress
at their workplace and everyone gets along  just fine.

Even successful teams need to listen to all team members to insure that they are heard and understood.  There are always issues to discuss since things change constantly.   As long as trust is established, discussing workplace conflicts works like magic.  They can be small such as having everyone come to meetings on time or cleaning up the kitchen.

A colleague of mine, Marilyn Suttle wrote a wonderful book – Who’s Your Gladys?  How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan.

You are in for a GREAT read after you experience Marilyn’s interesting article directly below on Do You Know What’s at the Top of Your Customers’ Irritation Lists?
Enjoy and make sure and check out her website which is at the end of her article.

As part of an experiment, I got out a pad of paper and pen, and walked through each room of my house finding things to add to my irritation list. Anything that bugged me got put on the list. The chipped paint in my dining room, the small rip in the lining of my lamp shade, the disorganized storage area in the basement – no matter how big or small, I wrote it down.

At first, my irritation list was long, and … irritating. Prioritizing and delegation changed all that. After a family meeting, the who, what, and by-when’s were added to the list.  (I admit this idea got a cold reception at first, but my husband and son got on board, adding some of their own irritations to the list and negotiating responsibilities.)
One by one, over the next six months, the house shaped up. As the list grew smaller, my energy and enthusiasm skyrocketed.

Consider what might happen if you were to create a customer irritation list at your place of business. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and lose sight of the irritations that ultimately undermine your success.
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and lose sight of the small things that ultimately undermine your success.

Do you know what’s at the top of your customers irritation lists? Over time, those irritations may be the deciding factor that pushes customers toward your competitor.

Points to help you break through irritations:

• Be eager to learn what’s on your customers’ irritation lists.

• (Don’t forget the people inside your company, aka your internal customers. Their irritations ultimately spill over onto your paying customers.)

• Notice your role in creating the problem or allowing it to continue.

• For each irritation, brainstorm several ways to handle it and pick the best one.    Divvy up or delegate.

Enjoy the results!

What do you think? What workplace irritations are you committed to eliminating?

2012 Copyright Marilyn Suttle

Marilyn Suttle is the coauthor of Who’s Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan. Marilyn travels internationally to deliver service excellence keynotes and workshops. Marilyn inspires her clients to excel by creating strong, productive relationships in every area of life.  She specializes in creating “Suttle Shifts” in the way people think and act to produce massive results. When you need a keynote speaker or success coach, Marilyn can be reached at  (248) 348-1023, marilyn@marilynsuttle.com or visit www.whosyourgladys.com
To access additional free customer service resources – including blog articles and video tips – visit www.whosyourgladys.com

I will be including several guest authors to contribute their articles on my Bold Solutions Blog.
Let me know how you enjoy their words of wisdom.

If you want more information on this subject make sure and check out my post on How to Create Strong Teams.

Let us hear what workshop issues drive you crazy.
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Until Next Time
This is Joyce Weiss, Conflict Resolution Consultant
and Remember…YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE!

Check out Someecard.com for creative cards.