Chapter 2. questions leaders need to ask customers

Have you ever had an unsatisfactory conversation with a customer service representative? One of those situations where you felt the person didn't care, couldn't do anything to fix the problem, or that the person's answer couldn't be trusted? Several years ago I had a particularly bad experience with an American Airlines customer service representative. I asked for and was transferred to a supervisor, and together we worked out a solution to the problem that had prompted my call in the first place. We wrapped up our conversation, and she repeated her apology for the way I had been treated. I explained that I appreciated her words and hoped that my upcoming trip on her airline would help erase the lingering concerns I had about doing business with American Airlines. As I hung up the phone, I turned to my husband, Frank, and said, "If she's smart, I'll have an upgrade when I check in for my flight tomorrow." "Yeah, right," he replied.

Most women hate to admit when their husbands are right. Frank was. I took my flight—in coach. It was okay, as was my return trip. Not good or bad, just okay. I got home three days later and found a soggy box on the front porch. It had been delivered while both of us were out of town and left to the mercies of the northern Wisconsin late fall weather. Dumping the dripping box into the basement sink, I opened it to find ruined pastries with a note of apology from the American Airlines supervisor. I don't think I've flown American since.