Most of us rave to everyone in ear shot when we receive exceptional service from a business. I recently dined at a restaurant that exemplified this and not only am I extremely keen to go there again, but I’m also telling all my friends about it! So what did they do that was so exceptional? - Attention to customers was balanced (always available but not hovering or checking in every 2 mins) - Appealed to my senses (instead of a dessert menu, they brought out a tray of amazing desserts to choose from – how can you resist that?!) - Showed passion and knowledge about the food - Always polite and helpful Really none of those things SHOULD be exceptional. In my opinion they should be the norm. But so many businesses don’t hold customers in such high esteem – when really, where would a business be without them? I challenge you to think about ways you can “be the exception”. Find ways to treat your customers like gold. It’s generally the “little things” (like sending a thank you card or a personal letter) that cost you very little in time and energy, but go a long way to being exceptional in the eyes of your customers. Aim for excellence with every customer. Not only will you create customers for life, you’ll also reap the benefits of word of mouth that spreads like wild fire! In the words of Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender