At the Ottawa Airport this morning, someone’s boarding pass drifted past my feet as I walked to my gate. I picked it up and went over to the agents for the appropriate flight.
“Good Morning, ladies,” I said to them both (it was 7 am), holding up the boarding pass. “I … .”
But I didn’t get to finish my second sentence. One of the agents, without looking up from her computer screen and making eye contact, cut me off. In that clipped, professional tone airline staff have perfected, she proceeded to tell me that boarding had not been announced. In other words “Go away and leave us alone. Can’t you see we’re busy here!”
She made an assumption about the reason for my approaching the desk.
Her response had an immediate negative impact on me, especially since I had walked out of my way to deliver the lost boarding pass. Without hesitation, I raised my voice, interrupted her and said with a somewhat irritated tone, “I’ve found someone’s boarding pass.”
Yes – the agent was somewhat embarrassed. No – she did not apologize … but she did provide me with this week’s post.
In this context, the word assumption is defined as “taking for granted” (counter-productive to customer service) or “presumption, arrogance” (the antithesis of building relationships).
Yet we all make assumptions about dozens of things each day. Some of them are costing us the goodwill and loyalty of existing customers. And some of them are limiting our ability to cultivate/attract new customers.
What’s interesting for me is earlier in the week my husband had commented on my tendency to make assumptions. He said it as a kind and supportive piece of advice and I try to take his advice seriously. He’s often right. So I’d been contemplating this notion of assumption and now I want to investigate further.
How can we identify our own assumptions? Since they are something we take for granted, how can we recognize them? Should we perhaps ask our trusted colleagues, friends, family for their input? I’d love to hear what you think.
This is a powerful story and thank you for sharing it. It too easy to judge the Agent’s motives, however from the story it is easy to see that she was more focused on herself and her needs than on her customers needs.
This is a classic case of “taking people for granted” and not appreciating others. Whether I’m a ticket agent for an airline, calling a prospective customer or a Prime Minister responding to questions; the second I think I have it all figured out… I’m doomed.
Successful organizations understand this and provide supports to prevent it from happening. Mediocre organizations on the other hand… they tolerate the kind of behaviour you described.
steve
PS: most people who read this have already guessed the airline.
Thanks, Steve, for your comments. It is too easy to judge, and that’s where we get caught isn’t it? And it really does limit our ability to perform – and exceed.
I’m really quite good at pointing out others’ assumptions… always trying to be better at catching my own. The real conundrum happens when we make judgments based on assumptions and then decisions based on those judgments… all quite unconsciously most of the time. I find it all so fascinating too.
(Like Steve, I too can guess the airline and we also have a blog post about their customer service!)
Thanks, Linda, for your comments. I do hope that when you notice the assumptions I make, that you’ll point them out. I think that is a powerful solution for small business owners – that we help each other be accountable for achieving excellence.
Mary Jane, your stories never fail to make a good point. Always a pleasure.
MJ you have the uncanny ability to immediately freeze-frame life’s situations, good and bad, and ask yourself, “Does what just happened teach me something new that might help others, too?” At least I think that’s what you are doing. Regardless it allows you to eventually render an objective opinion.
Your article caused me to conduct some self-examination and guess what ????
I’m guilty of making far too many assumptions. At least one assumption had devasting results. I will be more circumspect.
What I will also do is ask some of my customers if I’ve made assumptions. I’ll preface the question by referencing your article and then ask them if they’ve caught me in an assumption and see what happens.
Thanks, Peter. Really appreciate your comments and … I’d love to hear more about what happens when you ask your customers about assumptions. One other thing to think about … they can be making assumptions about you as well.