Pierre loves his job. I could tell from the minute I saw him. He walked with a lightness in his step and his head held high (not too high). He worked the room by engaging people in light, sometimes humorous conversation. He was comfortable doing that you could tell. Pierre followed up on the service being provided and went far beyond what he needed to to ensure the end result surpassed satisfactory.
What do you think Pierre does? He is the owner of Simply Crepes.
First of all, you know it takes a special person and incredible dedication to start their own business, not to mention a restaurant. He is that person. Everything he and his team did was to ensure a pleasurable customer experience and (perhaps more importantly) to develop relationships and connections that would nurture future business.
When you partner his energy and passion with his knack for developing relationships, you can see why he's successful. It isn't phony, he really loves what he does and he is so proud (not boastful) of his restaurant.
Pierre did more than his job. He didn't sit in a corner or back office tallying numbers or watching his team. He got in the game. Pierre pulled up a chair and asked questions to get to know us. He gently explained why his restaurant was different (as if we couldn't tell already). He knew us by name by the end of the evening and I walked out feeling like we'd met a new friend.
The lessons here are not only for business owners, but for everyone holding a job. Re-read the first paragraph and remember that you can exude those qualities too. No matter your job. These transfer to every job. Attitude, interpersonal communication skills, customer satisfaction (internal or external).
Do you delight your co-workers or fellow job seekers? Do you create memorable experiences people will remember? Do new acquaintances see you as their new "best friend"?
Go above and beyond where ever you can to make a lasting impression.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.