Every management book will tell you that you need to empower your associates. In many ways, it does make perfect sense; the more your associates can do the right thing for customers on their own, everyone wins. Customers get their issue resolved or the product they want with limited hassle. Your associates are more fulfilled […]
How to Get Promoted – for Managers and Reports
By michaelpace on April 2, 2013 Want to make your manager uncomfortable? Try one of these below out on them. “When am I going to get promoted?” “I’ve been in this position for two years, I should have been promoted by now.” “Why does <insert first and last name here> get promoted, and I get […]
Using Communities for Customer Support
By michaelpace on March 18, 2013 Overview: A majority of organizations are using some sort of community based support model or have considered doing such. The question is, are you seeing the results and cultivating real relationships with your customers? It is known customer communities can be an incredible source of support, for both your […]
“Well, it’s all about Trust”
By michaelpace on January 8, 2013 Last week my friend passed away. He wasn’t only my friend; he was a peer, my manager, a career changer, a mentor, and overall great guy. Larry (Streeter) and I had met up the Friday before Christmas to catch up and talk customer service and leadership shop. As it […]
It’s Time to Grade My 2012 Predictions – Customer Service Fortune Cookies for 2012
By michaelpace on December 19, 2012 Before I let my crazy cousin Pacefucious make any predictions for 2013, we need to hold him accountable for his previous Confucius-like prophecies. Complete, wild guess predictions and thoughts by my cousin Pacefucious about the trends in Customer Service for 2012. Note: The practice of adding “in bed” may […]
Swinging a Hammer Does Not Make You a Carpenter; It Just Makes You Dangerous Or Smart Use of Social Media for your Contact Center
By michaelpace on November 15, 2012 When I am speaking or consulting regarding Social Media Customer Support or Social Business, a few of my favorite questions that I almost always receive are: Who should own social media in a company? Should we be on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, and every network? There are so […]
Live Google+ Debate: Will Technology Kill the Call Center?
By michaelpace on October 15, 2012 Recently, I participated in an live Google+ debate hosted by Software Advice that asked, “Will Technology Kill the Call Center?” The research firm basically wanted to investigate trends in consumer contact channel utilization, technology and the impact of these trends on the future call center. The event featured a […]
The Power of the Social Business – Why this is where your business needs to be
By michaelpace on September 26, 2012 If you have been consciously or unconsciously playing Buzzword Bingo around the office, the term social business has probably been at the center of your board. “We need to be a Social Business.” Or “I went to an event recently where everyone was talking about Social Business.” Or even […]
How to Develop Rockstars in Your Organization
By michaelpace on July 17, 2012 Over the past few months, I have acquired a tremendous amount of lessons learned for the job hunt, finding an opportunity you love, and uncovering if you will be a cultural fit. I’ll document the best practices as soon as I am firmly landed. In the meantime, I have […]
CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES or Leadership’s Most Underrated Skill
By michaelpace on April 23, 2012 It’s great to see a portion of the focus on social media technologies shift from shiny objects and how to market better to increasing the adoption of the tools and uses within the organization. The era of the Social Business or, as I prefer to call it, the Social […]