Here you go

Customer service. Remember that? It had something to do with communications.

Ah, right. Now I recall. There was a pleasant focus on manners, with ?please? and ?thank you? sprinkled throughout.

What do we get now? ?Here you go.?

That?s it. That?s what they say.

?Here you go.?

They are, of course, the customer service representatives, the cashiers, the people who take your money, hand you a receipt, with a hearty . . . ?Here you go.?

Or maybe not so hearty. Maybe it?s more like ?I have a job that pays less than what I deserve and I?m just ready for my shift to be over so here you go.?

Don?t get me wrong. I feel for people who are not making what they should and who are in jobs that are nowhere near their career choice. However, regardless of what job they (we) do, they (we) need to put heart and manners into it.

Has customer service faded away, along with work ethic, workplace etiquette, and employee commitment? Are employees not taught the basics of thanking customers for their business? Have we just reached the point where we don?t care if we are appreciated by the particular establishment where we opted to spend our money?

There is probably a way to connect this to the short-attention span, immediate gratification, distracted-by-electronics society that we have become. But I digress ?.

I choose to think people can do better. People can learn – or relearn – basic manners and etiquette.

And, truly, all hope is not lost. There are actually still people in business with decent customer communication skills. Where I prefer to spend my money on seafood, the employees behind the counter greet me, thank me, and even give me a big smile and a ?see you next time!?

Awesome.

Employees can learn. Customers can be more appreciated. All it takes is an extra breath and another two words: ?Here you go. Thank you!?

Try it. Let me know how it goes.