Tag Archive by: customer experience

The Role of CX Leadership in Today's World - with Ian Golding

In this episode of the CX Leadership Talks Podcast, Nienke Bloem interviews Ian Golding, one of the worlds famous CX Specialists and fellow CCXP.

Together they discuss a wide range of topics like customer experience management and how to spice it up. Exploring customer experience and the topic of your leadership authority.

If you are interested in CX education and want to learn more about it, this episode is a must-listen. You will gain valuable insights and knowledge from CX experts who have years of experience in the field.

Timestamps

[00:05:14] "External customer-centric expert focuses on empowerment"

[00:08:37] "The Power of Earning Authority for CX Professionals"

[00:13:30] Why Job Titles and Salaries Don't Matter

[00:16:49] "The Importance of Listening to Four Voices"

[00:19:51] The Lack of Leadership Hindering Business Change.

[00:25:28] Board member praises simple customer journey visualization

[00:29:16] Operationalizing Theory: Basics Forgotten in Practice.

[00:31:21] "Siloed working stifles progress in businesses"

[00:34:30] "Eliminate Non-Value Added Work for Efficiency"

[00:36:31] "Identifying Non-Value Added Activity: A Strategy"

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Strategy 9: Be practical

Be practical, that is what strategy 9 is about. Many leaders are perfectionists. I think it's holding many people back. Besides that, it slurps all your time and energy.

So, if this applies to you as well, then watch this video now. Better done than perfect, learn how to get things done.

I read aloud a chapter every week. Enjoy listening to my book. I do hope that I'll inspire you to spice up your journey as a business leader, a CX leader, or maybe even as a leader in your personal life. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you'll be notified if another chapter appears!

Would you rather read my book? You can find it online on Amazon or - in the Netherlands and Belgium - in any bookstore online.

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The red carpet

Let's go back in time. I think it was sometime in 1999. I worked at AMEV as a Life Inspector and I refinanced my mortgage. Because as an employee, I received a nice discount on the mortgage interest rate and I was happy to take that advantage. A few years later I started renovating and I was able to go to AMEV for that too.

Within AMEV there was a special office for employees, where everything was taken care of when taking out the mortgage. There was coffee ready, you could always walk in if you had any questions and also the communication about papers and the notary was well taken care of. There was no red carpet rolled out yet, but it felt that way. As employees, we were well pampered.

As a Life Inspector, I was responsible for a large area, east of Utrecht to the German border and helped intermediaries choose AMEV in the field of mortgages and pensions. I'm sure there are some time zones mixed up now, but I do remember that my clients – the intermediaries – didn't find our mortgage handling too flourishing. Communication was unclear. Their customers didn't understand our letters. It took a long time for official quotes to come. Things went wrong when sending the notary documents.

I didn't understand much of that. After all, we had arranged it so well, hadn't we? I really didn't know any better than that we as AMEV gave the red-carpet feeling to customers. Because that was my own experience. In Customer Experience, we call this the 'n=1 situation'. My own experience, would also be that of our customers and their customers. In addition, I didn't realize at the time that I had an inside-out view and was heavily contaminated with the 'curse of knowledge'. The what?! I had much more knowledge of mortgages, legislation, and processes than the customer who took out a mortgage. This is called the 'curse of knowledge'. As a result, I couldn't put myself in the shoes of the person without that knowledge. I missed the outside-in view.

I went with an intermediary to one of his customers and immediately saw where things went wrong with us. That the red-carpet feeling only applied to employees. But I also immediately saw the potential for improvement. 

That's exactly why I'm calling on everyone to visit customers themselves. Step out of your own processes, systems and ideas and look at the world through the eyes of the customer. Where the customer is. At the company or just at home. See where customers' needs lie, what keeps them awake at night and where the real potential for improvement lies. Who knows, you might also see where your organization can give that red-carpet feeling to customers.

 

This blog was written for CustomerFirst and published on July 4, 2023

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Strategy 8: Budgeting

How much does it cost to go on a pilgrimage? And what is the link with budgeting your CX projects as a CX leader? Budgeting might not be your favorite part of your role, but money is required to bring in results.

Watch this video about strategy 8: budgeting. And you'll find out it's less difficult than you think!

I read aloud a chapter every week. Enjoy listening to my book. I do hope that I'll inspire you to spice up your journey as a business leader, a CX leader, or maybe even as a leader in your personal life. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you'll be notified if another chapter appears!

Would you rather read my book? You can find it online on Amazon or - in the Netherlands and Belgium - in any bookstore online.

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Strategy 7: Mitigate risks

Many CX leaders find it difficult to get boardroom involvement and support. How to go about? In my time as a CX leader at KPN, I wish I had known what I know now, ten years later: what the C-suite and those that live in the boardroom hate, are risks...

So, mitigate them. That's what strategy number 7 is about!

I read aloud a chapter every week. Enjoy listening to my book. I do hope that I'll inspire you to spice up your journey as a business leader, a CX leader, or maybe even as a leader in your personal life. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you'll be notified if another chapter appears!

Would you rather read my book? You can find it online on Amazon or - in the Netherlands and Belgium - in any bookstore online.

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Strategy 5: Where to start?

When it comes to customer experience, should you start by interviewing customers and sending out surveys? Or should you start by mapping customer journeys and then interview customers? Or..?

In this video you'll explore that many roads lead to Rome. But which road to take? Where to start? That's what strategy 5 is about. Check it out!

I read aloud a chapter every week. Enjoy listening to my book. I do hope that I'll inspire you to spice up your journey as a business leader, a CX leader, or maybe even as a leader in your personal life. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you'll be notified if another chapter appears!

Would you rather read my book? You can find it online on Amazon or - in the Netherlands and Belgium - in any bookstore online.

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All Rob

We start the CX inspiration day at Starbucks. Together with eight Customer Experience leaders in the government, today we get a look behind the scenes at three companies to see how they organize customer experience.

While everyone trickles in, Robin and I stand in line for coffee at Starbucks. We slowly move up and then we can order coffee for five people.

"Two americanos, an oat latte and two cappuccinos please." The male barista looks at me and asks, "What name can I write on the cups?" Next to him is a female colleague with a marker at the ready. I think about who ordered which coffee, because how nice is it when everyone has their own name on the cup? I see a somewhat pleading look and realize that today it is not at all the intention that there are different names on the cup.

In a split second, I decide not to make a big deal out of it. Because it's rush hour at Utrecht Central Station at this Starbucks and I don't think he's in the mood for it. No, this man wants us away from that counter as soon as possible. So I look at Robin and realize that his name is easier than having to write Nienke on every cup, so I say 'Go ahead Robin.'

He looks at his colleague with the marker in his hand, sees the five cups and in half a second he has an even easier solution. 'Can it be Rob?' I look at Robin, we give each other a quick wink – hopefully unseen by the barista – and with a sigh I say that's okay.

While he is relieved to strike something at the cash register, he sees that he has charged cash instead of paying with a card and the order can be replaced. I think this is his punishment by the universe, because Robin's name is Robin. No Rob. And actually, these coffees are for Robert, Anke, Marieke, Nienke and Robin. Not for five Robs.

At checkout, it is also more than two euros cheaper the second time. So now that we're all called Rob, life has immediately become cheaper. I have to laugh a little.

Even though I'm bummed about it, because I've organized a CX inspiration day and that's why I want it to be personal for my guests. Oh well, you also get inspiration from the worst practices, it goes through me.

We sit down, waiting for the coffees for Rob. About three minutes later our coffees are ready. "I've got the coffees for Robin here!" the barista shouts with the marker. Haha. She has made her colleague very loud, but it is not a good customer experience.

 

This blog was written for CustomerFirst and published on June 6, 2023

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Strategy 4: Create doable chunks

Giant goals can stimulate you to go forward, but they can also freeze you. They excite and frighten you at the same time, because where to start? What should your first step be?

Let me show you how to do this. Watch this video about creating doable chunks. Yes, this is the 4th strategy!

I read aloud a chapter every week. Enjoy listening to my book. I do hope that I'll inspire you to spice up your journey as a business leader, a CX leader, or maybe even as a leader in your personal life. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you'll be notified if another chapter appears!

Would you rather read my book? You can find it online on Amazon or - in the Netherlands and Belgium - in any bookstore online.

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Leadership Lessons: Stepping out of your Comfort Zone for CX Success, with Edwin Koot

In this episode of CX Leadership Talks, Nienke Bloem interviews Edwin Koot, Manager Customer Experience & Analytics at Allianz Benelux who shares his insights on Customer Experience Management. 

It is the honest story of how he stepped out of his comfort zone and spiced up his leadership. It is a great conversation on Voice of the Customer, ROI and how to engage leaders in organizations. 

If you want to learn more about CX leadership or have any questions about CX, contact Nienke. She is the CX leadership expert and can provide you with the guidance and support you need to succeed in CX Leadership.

Listen to this episode

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Strategy 3: Set a BHAG

Strategy 3 is: set a BHAG. This really helps you to transform and to become the leader you wish to be. Dare to aim for something big, by setting your BHAG.

Don't know yet or don't even know what a BHAG is? Then surely listen to chapter 3 and get inspired!

I read aloud a chapter every week. Enjoy listening to my book. I do hope that I'll inspire you to spice up your journey as a business leader, a CX leader, or maybe even as a leader in your personal life. 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and you'll be notified if another chapter appears!

Would you rather read my book? You can find it online on Amazon or - in the Netherlands and Belgium - in any bookstore online.

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