Magic in the Room #21: The Bounds of Service

July 14, 2020

In this episode, Hannah, Chris and Luke explore the question “what is service?” and outline the three elements of an exceptional service experience. Stay tuned to the end for a special bonus: personal experiences with brands providing the best, and not-so-great service experiences!

 


Chris believes that there are three primary components to establishing excellent service that can be identified by asking the following questions:

 

  1. What type of relational meaning or connectedness are we getting out of the exchange?
  2. What level of responsiveness is a person receiving as part of an exchange?
  3. What are the perceptions of quality? Are they experiencing as part of that exchange?

 

It shouldn’t matter if you are making a transaction for an ice cream cone or buying a gigabyte of storage space in a data warehouse somewhere. Chris advises that what we’re transacting is immaterial. It is his experience throughout that transaction. Chris also shares how his business goal is the consumer, whoever we’re transacting with delivering a higher level of loyalty and affinity. This is due to the relational meaning that we’re providing them the how responsive we are in not just during the trade transaction but also post-transaction.

 

Beyond that, what impressions of quality are we leaving with them? Primarily, these three components determine how much affinity you develop for your brand too. Whether that is your personal brand, as a leader, or an enterprise that you lead, these are the three things that establish the loyalty towards that. But what else could you do this week to provide exceptional service in your B2B or B2C environment?

 

For Hannah, it will always be responsiveness. Although her strength is on the relational meaning and the perception, she admits that the responsiveness is where she often struggles. Having a large amount of stuff that requires a meaningful response can be incredibly time-consuming. But Hannah is exploring ways to simplify her work process and become more effective.

 

Luke is quick to recognize that the area he would like to improve is the relational connection piece. He admits that he can be slow to connect with people or at least come across that way. But, once he’s connected and built mutual trust, it goes deep. Luke shares his journey of understanding how he can express care for people, even if he has known them for five minutes.

 

When any consumer is looking for support, they typically ask themselves the following three questions. Do I trust this person? Can they help me? And do they care about me? Chris believes that if he can genuinely say yes to all three of these things, it will build a fundamental connection that solves a lot of service issues, or at the least, it lays the groundwork for service to exist.

 

What are you going to take away to provide exceptional service, time responsiveness, and a relational connection with your customers? What will you be doing differently to make people feel like you add value? How do you define CX and EX?

 

Please share your insights by commenting below.

 

 

 

Magic in the Room #191: Regaining Agency in Chaotic Times

By Sarah Whitfield • June 3, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," hosts Luke, Hannah, and Chris delve into the themes of leadership, agency, and emotional regulation amidst chaos. They discuss how leaders can maintain control and purpose when faced with unexpected challenges or disruptions, emphasizing the importance of not succumbing to emotional hijacks. The conversation highlights the concept of "amygdala hijack," where emotional responses can override rational thinking, and the need for leaders to remain intentional and mindful in their reactions. They also explore the idea of maintaining emotional bank accounts, where relationships are built through consistent positive interactions, and the dangers of making impulsive withdrawals during moments of emotional flooding.

Magic in the Room #190: Leading Through Loss

By Sarah Whitfield • May 7, 2025
In this episode of "Magic in the Room," hosts Hannah Bratterud, Chris Province, and Luke Freeman delve into the complexities of leadership, particularly when dealing with personal and professional challenges that aren't covered by standard policies. They discuss the importance of embracing a holistic community approach in workplaces, where personal and work lives intersect, and the difficulties leaders face when unexpected events, such as illness or loss, occur. The conversation is deeply personal, as Chris shares the story of his late friend Doug, highlighting the impact of personal relationships on professional environments. The discussion highlights the need for strategic planning that includes contingencies for unexpected disruptions and the importance of vulnerability and open communication in building trust within teams.
Show More