The English dictionary definition of ‘going the extra mile’ is: Make a special effort to achieve something.
It’s the little things in life which make a big difference. Going the extra mile is a vital ingredient that lifts our mood, allowing hopefulness to rule.
Your business is nothing without your customers. You know that, but sometimes it’s easy to forget.
In a competitive market you need to do everything you can to be one step ahead of your competition. This is where quality customer service and doing that little bit extra will help you to succeed. After all, customers always remember exceptional service.
“Here is the simple but powerful rule… always give people more than they expect to get.” – Nelson Boswell
So what are some of the reasons behind why we should ‘go the extra mile?’
- Feel Good Factor
If there is one overwhelming reason to go the extra mile, it is to make sure that you feel better about yourself. We all want to be that person who looks in the mirror in the morning and know our reflection is of the professional employee – who does a great job every time – we know we can be. Who doesn’t enjoy the praise from a customer, from a manager or co-worker when you’ve worked hard and gone above and beyond what was expected of you? By going the extra mile you are bringing a sense of purposefulness to your working life.
- Boost Your Career
When you go the extra mile at work, it’s likely that your colleagues and manager are going to notice. This could mean that it turns out to be great news for your career! Keep on plugging away and doing as good a job as you can and you should find that your career prospects are boosted along the way. Whether you want a particular promotion, or to grow your career in another direction, you will find that going the extra mile in your current role is the best possible way of doing this.
- Improve your knowledge of your Customers
Take the chance to get to know your customers better. They cherish personalisation. Work hard to dig deep into understanding how their business works day-to-day, any problems they have encountered and how you could resolve them. Where relevant, you may also wish to take notes of any conversations exchanged so that you are able to refer them the next time you talk. Go the extra mile and make them feel like they are your only customer.
- Fix Your Mistakes
You should start seeking feedback from customers. There may be a tiny mistake or issue in your company that customers are getting irritated by and you are unaware of. Therefore, always strive for high-quality output as it shows you have high standards. Develop a reputation for reliability; never make a pledge that you cannot maintain.
Additionally, make sure that you encounter as few hassles as possible on your projects. It is easy to think that other people are to blame for the problems we run into, however, by going the extra mile more often you should find that you are capable of clearing up most of the potential hassles all on your own. Be that person who can make the whole process a lot smoother simply by doing the very best you can.
- Impact others
Your sheer commitment and diligence towards your work will definitely encourage others to follow in your footsteps. Set a great benchmark for yourself which others will aspire to. Be a positive influence and MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Help to build a stronger work force.
“One of the most important principles of success is developing the habit of going the extra mile.” – Napoleon Hill
To finish, here a few inspirational stories which make you really appreciate the attitudes and generosity of certain individuals and businesses…
A missing pizza…
A Pizza Hut customer who ordered on a regular basis had suddenly gone MIA. The Pizza Hut branch was concerned about its loyal client and called him, asking if he was okay, as he had not ordered from them for over two weeks. To his surprise, they also offered him a complimentary “welcome back” pizza, which he obviously took them up on! He did not hesitate to share the story on Facebook.
All hail Asda…
Schoolboy Dylan Russell, seven, has autism – and trips to the supermarket are particularly stressful for him. Dylan’s mother explains that he loves pushing the trolley, loading food in and going to the toy aisle, but he hates the check out because he knows he has nothing to do and he starts getting agitated. As such, staff at Asda’s Huyton branch decided to help by trying to make the ventures into the supermarket more manageable. The team at Asda began actively encouraging Dylan to undertake certain tasks in the store to help distract him. Employee Gareth Hughes made a song and dance of him, then he gave him the hand to show people the till was available and eventually Dylan got to experience a real checkout experience. He was even invited for a special day with the staff, where he worked alongside employees – including making his own pizza and getting a behind the scenes tour of the delivery floor.
One step ahead…
A Veteran came into the Salisbury VA Medical Center’s Emergency Department seeking treatment for some large blisters on his feet – His feet were in really bad shape and the cause was worn out and trashed shoes. Chuck Maulden, a nurse in the Emergency Department, went to work on treating the patient, taking a little extra care to make sure the Veteran had everything he needed to heal properly. Chuck took the decicison to ask the patient what shoe size he wore, and to his surprise, it was the same as his! He provided the Veteran with his nearly-new pair of shoes to help him recover, disposing of the old pair. Maulden finished out his shift in medical shoe covers to prevent any unsanitary conditions as a result of giving up his shoes.
‘He needed something I could provide. He’s obviously got a harder life than I do’ – Chuck Maulden
