Silos can happen in any business, in all industries. So, what exactly is a “silo”? Growing up a farm kid, I would refer to this as a grain bin, which is a place to store the crop after harvest and keep it dry before selling the grain. From a business perspective, it has a different…
Based on the best-selling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni, the single most untapped competitive advantage is teamwork. To gain this advantage, teams must: Trust one another: When team members are genuinely transparent and honest with one another, they are able to build vulnerability-based trust. Engage in Conflict around ideas: When there is…
This is a very simple concept but may businesses struggle to consistently achieve it. In our Business Consulting practice we work with many clients who truly value service. What does “truly valuing service” really look like? I was speaking with a Business Associate of mine and he commented that he recently purchased a very high-end truck….
During a recent customer service training and development workshop, the X5 team facilitated a roundtable discussion on customer communication process and receiving customer feedback. It is concerning how many sales reps disappear after an initial sale is made and the product or service has been delivered. They mistakenly think that their work is done, but…
Team Alignment The success of any group effort will always come down to team alignment in the end. Whether it is a company, a sports team or some other form of group, the outcome will always depend on how well the individuals who make up the group function when they are working together. How well these…
We all have things that we have done and we all have some things left undone. Ask yourself the question: Why have I started and completed certain goals, actions, or tasks in my life? Now ask the next question: Why have I not yet completed certain goals, actions, or tasks in my life? I remember…
Delivering Great Customer Service Through Social Media If your business isn’t using social media for customer service, you are missing out on crucial opportunities to communicate with your customers, improve their experiences and stand out from your competition. With an estimated 3.2 billion Internet users around the globe and new social media channels surfacing all…
As a business, it is no longer good enough to be considered “good”. Today, to successfully stand out from your competition and win the loyalty of new and existing customers, you must be extraordinary. Remarkable, even. Being successful in business all comes down to how you engage with your customers. And how well your business…
Over the past year the team at X5 Management has facilitated many strategic planning sessions for organizations and companies looking to reflect on the previous year, share information with their teams and plan for the upcoming quarter and year. Several themes exist for these sessions including strategic growth planning, team goal setting, succession planning and leadership…
Is your company going through major and necessary change? Or more importantly, are you in desperate need of challenging the status quo? Effective change management, cultural innovation and helping employees understand the change process is critical to building and maintaining growth and positive momentum in any organization. Those organizations that are quickly able to adapt…
The ABCs and ABMs of Sales In business, we see many different angles on this thought. As business owners or sales professionals we all have to generate sales and revenue. There are many companies that have instilled the culture to “always be closing” (ABC). They sometimes push and prod until we agree or get annoyed. Many…
Weekly Planning – Why it Matters What Next Week Looks Like Most companies will pay lip-service to the importance of planning ahead and staying on top of their game, but only the most successful companies make organization and time management habits a key focus of their company culture. The resulting increase in efficiency and productivity…
Drop a Pebble…Chase the Ripples I am at a stage in my life, at 82 years, where it is difficult to remember what was “original” with me, or something I picked up from someone else. I used the phrase, “drop a pebble” way back when I started in my business and sales activities. The words…
Are You on the Same Page? – How to Get Your Entire Business Aligned Most entrepreneurs understand on some level that they need to have a clear and succinct vision for their company. Who are we? What do we offer? Who are our customers? A business is largely defined by its vision, and its success…
Team Engagement – Simple Steps to Make Them Want to Help Your Business The key to succeeding in any industry is to have productive and effective employees. While you can hire the best people and create an effective company vision and structure, you still need to bring your employees on board to ensure that they…
It is easy for salespeople to lose hope when the sales pipeline looks bare, especially when hard economic times make every sale seem that much more difficult from open to close. However, effective sales practices are all about creating a solid system and sticking to it, no matter what the general economic climate is like….
All businesses are made up of human relationships, both internally and externally. All of the business metrics, jargon and management systems cannot alter the fact that how people feel is of central importance to the success of any business. Even the highest quality products, for example, cannot make up for poor customer service, and consumers…
Many businesses are plagued by a lack of employee engagement. Despite the best efforts of the management team to maintain morale and a positive team-mentality, employees continue to drift back into old patterns of avoiding responsibility and only doing the bare minimum. Not only does this negative culture affect traditional business metrics, such as productivity,…
Unlike many terms in business jargon that seem to come and go with little lasting impact, business silos are a persistent problem faced by modern businesses for decades now. Many experienced managers and management specialists believe that silos are a natural development as a business grows beyond its unified roots into a more complex departmental…
Year after year and decade after decade, customer service ranks among the most important factors when evaluating business success. In the end all businesses are human endeavors, which means people talking to people. Customers never forget how a business made them feel, for better or for worse, so it is extremely important that the customer…
There is nothing quite as frustrating and disheartening as operating a business during an economic downturn. Your customers are hesitant, your investors are nervous, your suppliers are under pressure, and everyone is uncertain what the future will bring. Trying to maintain business-driving sales in a downturn economy often feels like trying to empty the ocean…
Your customers are the foundation of your business, which is why every day should be customer appreciation day. When your customers feel appreciated, not only are they more likely to choose your business over your competitors, but they’ll also refer your business to their family and friends. Needless to say, showing your customers you appreciate…
X5 President, Mike Mack, had an opportunity to be interviewed by one of the leading Podcasters, in North America. Joel Boggess – ReLaunch Show (#1 podcast on iTunes *(Interview starts at the 7-minute mark of the podcast) Joel refers to Mike as his “Canadian correspondent” as Joel had Mike on this Podcast other times in…
The team at X5 Management has been supporting Stahl Peterbilt (a full service truck/parts & service dealership) to improve their sales and customer service processes and initiatives since 2012. At this time, Stahl Peterbilt had the desire to improve their overall customer service approach to secure and retain customers. The leadership team at Stahl aspired…
When the team at X5 Management provides business consulting services to leaders and executives, we often get asked the same question – what is the secret of success? In truth, there is no magic wand to ensure success. Success is a long, winding road that others aren’t even aware of. Much like an iceberg, others only…
Imagine the level of service you could provide if you knew exactly what your customer was thinking. Not only would you have the tools to solve any problem effortlessly, but you’d also be able to create the tailored experiences that build loyalty, and keep happy customers coming back for more. Unfortunately, none of us are…
In business, entrepreneurs and salespeople are lauded for being busy, taking on a million different tasks at a time, and logging long hours in pursuit of their dreams. While it’s important to be ambitious and work hard on your business, it’s also important to take time off to recharge. Often individuals in sales spend so…
When it comes to outshining your competition, the solution is simple: all you have to do is master the right customer service skills. You already understand that without your customers, you wouldn’t have a business. And while it’s true that some customers can be difficult to please, at the end of the day, their satisfaction…
If you think about your day like a bookend, the morning is on one side and the evening is on the other. Many times, you can’t control all the things that happen during the day (between your bookends). Last-minute sales meetings, traffic delays, customer service concerns, family emergencies – they all bring a certain unpredictability…
How well (or not-so-well) your business handles a customer complaint can make or break your success, as well as your company’s reputation. The truth is, even if a customer is legitimately unsatisfied with your product or service, how you handle their complaint could make the difference in whether they continue to be your customer. Unsatisfied…
I grew up on a grain and cattle farm on the Prairies. Coming from a family farm, business and rural community has always been something I am particularly proud of. During my regular visits back, I can’t help but gaze across the land to see the surrounding farm operations. Some seem to be thriving and…
As a business, it is no longer good enough to be considered “good”. Today, to successfully stand out from your competition and win the loyalty of new and existing customers, you must be extraordinary. Remarkable, even. Being successful in business all comes down to how you engage with your customers. And how well your business…
Patrons who walk through the door of Edmonton’s Corso 32 are almost inevitably assured of impeccable home-style Italian fare created by owner/chef Daniel Costa and his team. But it’s what’s not on the menu that plays an equal role in the accolades heaped on the Jasper Avenue restaurant, which has won multiple awards since opening nearly six…
One thing I enjoy most about being an entrepreneur in Edmonton is the opportunity to participate in a variety of networking events in and around our provincial capital. I appreciate the opportunity to be “social” with fellow members of business organizations and their guests, such as a great conference about mergers and acquisitions a week…
Dealing with difficult customers can be frustrating and challenging. But what you may not realize about these more challenging customers is how essential they are to the success of your business. Whether customers come across as impossible to please, demanding or hard to communicate with (or all of the above), they offer you invaluable opportunities…
EDMONTON, AB — Is your business the one everyone’s talking about? Does your company deliver the kind of Remarkable Service that keeps customers coming back – even when the competitor down the street is offering a similar product at a significant price reduction? It’s a tough time to be in business in Alberta. Plunging oil…
In order for a company to put its best foot forward, it must set an example of customer service behaviour from the top. Implementing a positive and fun company culture will instill loyalty, drive, and ambition in all employees and ensure that they work hard for the company that they ‘love’ to work for –…
“Our number one priority is company culture. Our whole belief is that if you get the culture right, most of the other stuff like delivering great customer service or building a long-term enduring brand will just happen naturally on its own.” – Internet entrepreneur and venture capitalist Tony Hsieh Most companies list customer service as…
I am very fortunate to work with many business leaders who celebrate great team members at all levels of their organization. It’s not rocket science to understand and appreciate the strengths and value of each and every individual – from the executives in the corner office to the front of house staff. It seems simple enough, but too often we may…
During an interview with X5 Management, Bruce Kirkland from Lexus of Edmonton shares his perspective on Customer Service excellence. In this second part of a two-part series, we offer further insights from Bruce about how little things make all the difference at Lexus of Edmonton. You can read Part One here. How do you get that team of people involved and…
The first Thursday of each month features a “best of” X5 Management blog. The intent is to showcase and revisit some of our blogs from the past. We hope you enjoy them! Have you ever thought about attempting to measure the return on your customer service investments? Is your organization aware of the lifetime value…
This story is often attributed to Chinese leader, Chou En Lai, and has been rewritten in multiple forms by authors unknown. As the story goes, there was once a farmer and his only son in the days just before the Civil War. Having only one horse, the farmer and son worked long hard days, sun up to sun…
