5 Customer Care Lessons from Dr. Seuss

In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday I'd like to share this delightful LinkedIn blog by Tricia Morris. I love Dr. Seuss, and some of my favorites are used in this blog, but my all time favorite was not. "You're on your own. And you know what you know. An YOU are the one who'll decide where to go." What is your favorite Dr. Seuss quote? 
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The lessons we learn and put to memory as children are the ones that shape us personally and professionally as adults. Theodor Geisel, whom the world knows simply and fondly as "Dr. Seuss," may be best known for his children’s stories, but if you read between the lines, there are lots of good lessons for us as adults, too.

While Dr. Seuss and customer care may not make a pair like Thing One and Thing Two, Dr. Seuss and customer care do go together, as you’ll see in these quotes from some of the good doctor’s writings still beloved by kids from one to 92…

1. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Customer service today is supported by processes, best practices and technology, but the secret ingredient will always be personal care. Personal care makes all the difference in attitude, authenticity and even the extra effort that goes into the use of technology and best practices – caring a whole awful lot will always make things better, rather than not. 

2. “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

Many times in customer service, we feel the need or are directed to take care of the “most important” customers first, and while that does work in most cases, we must remember that all of our customers are important. Also and especially with social media, a customer that is perceived to be “small” can become very big, very fast. Therefore, we must consistently deliver our best care to every customer, no matter how small.

3. “Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?”

While it’s easy in customer care to simply do what’s required, going above and beyond when possible with an extra act of kindness can mean the world. Making someone’s day is a surefire way to aid in customer satisfaction, retention and creating a brand advocate. A customer service hero story can be created by the smallest gesture - and remember this additional quote from Dr. Seuss: “To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” Always look for ways to make your service stand out. 

4. “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

As customer care representatives, when customers come to us with complicated questions, we can delight by making the answers simple. Brands that invest in improving self-service knowledge, and ensuring customer care representatives are empowered with the same, can increase first contact resolution and customer satisfaction by making the right answer available, no matter how easy or complicated the question.

5. “Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.”

Words from the good doctor that need no further explanation. Today is your day, your mountain is waiting. So get on your way….

Originally posted to LinkedIn by Tricia Morris