Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 24 W hen you make yourself indispensable, success is bound to follow. "Indispensable" means becoming someone your customers, team, or superiors can rely on. It means they can depend on you to be helpful. It means you always have a consistently great attitude, do the best job possible, and communicate clearly. It means you don't wait for instructions – you figure out what has to be done, and you do it. Being indispensable will carry great benefits for you, too. It will strengthen your self-confidence, self-esteem, and financial well- being, and it can help secure your future. But it doesn't just happen. You need to decide what you can do to make yourself a vital element in others' work and lives. Most people are held back by their self-imposed limitations. In many cases, they become paralyzed by a fear of failing. Fear keeps us from taking chances and strips us of our power to move ahead. If you want to get promoted and make more money, it's imperative that you learn to set your ego aside and take risks. SET GOALS The first step in becoming indispensable is setting goals. For the last half-century I've set goals every year – they are the road maps that take me from where I am to where I want to be. You need to put your goals in writing – and they need to be specific. They need to challenge you to do more – vague goals only produce vague results. Study where you are in your career today, and identify the next steps to move ahead. Give yourself a sensible timeline for each goal, so you can track your progress. IDENTIFY THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO DEVELOP OR IMPROVE They might require more education or training, but they don't have to cost a lot. Take online courses on leadership, management, and customer service. Many companies offer tuition reimbursement to help employees further their education. READ AT LEAST ONE SELF-IMPROVEMENT BOOK A MONTH They won't just inspire you, they'll help you manage challenges others have faced, and teach you the steps they took to overcome them. Learn everything you can about your industry and your company and its products and services. If you fail to learn, you'll fail to grow. ASSESS YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS How do you interact with your internal and external customers? Do you actively listen? Are you empathetic? Do you offer solutions? ASK YOUR BOSS, "WHAT CAN I DO TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL?" Ask them their opinion on what skills you lack and how can you can lighten their workload. PUSH YOURSELF Push yourself physically and mentally, but take care of your health, because it supplies the energy to drive your success. An important word of caution: As you pursue your goals, don't sacrifice your family and other relationships. Healthy relationships are an indispensable part of a healthy, successful life. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF Be focused. Massage your mind. Take chances. Become indispensable. Visit www.customer-service.com for more information on John Tschohl and the Service Quality Institute. John Tschohl Customer Service John Tschohl is the founder and president of Service Quality Institute, a global leader in customer service. He is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on all aspects of customer service, and is the author of several books including Moving Up: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Success. His monthly strategic newsletter is available online at no cost at www.customer-service.com. MAKE YOURSELF INDISPENSABLE RO

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