Busy, Busy, Busy.... or just a busy fool!?

For years I have heard the busy phrase used. When I hear the word busy, it makes me quite cross, in fact more then cross actually. It’s up there for me with that horrid phrase ‘we’ve always done it this way’.

I believe people who use the word busy are busy fools, trying to show the world they are busy and masking a - what is really - less than busy existence.

People need to validate their life or work and busy covers it. They can never tell you a list of what they are busy doing, just that they are busy.

People who say they are busy to meet are also saying that their time is more important than yours and no one’s time is more important than another as life is short whatever rung on the ladder you are.

Time is crucial, and for customers giving of your time shows to them how valuable they are. I remember working in Harrods a lady would come in at the start of each season to buy a suit and would spend hours looking at the price, colours, new attire before trying items on and then spending time after looking at any imperfection. I believe she wanted to feel valued as a customer and for us to give that time to her before spending what was a large sum of money on the suit. And why not.

Some customers could be lonely and this interaction is crucial for them in their week. Make time for people.

If someone is busy it means they think they are more important and you and that there time is more precious than yours. You are not a priority, because I can tell you this, if they wanted to do something they would meet and take you up on the offer to talk and do it. I have always found that people who really want to do something, follow through on it quickly. Busy goes out the window!

Customers should never feel that you are too busy for them. I was still in my teens when I had a mystery shop done on me at Harrods during the summer sale. The shopper said that I showed great calm and focus at clearly a busy and frantic time and was not made to feel rushed or that I was busy. I just knew that customer service was key - we had been trained in this at the store for a day before we started our jobs even though we were only temporary summer sale staff.

We all need to make time for people and listen to their needs to make the purchase process easy. This is lost sometimes in those periods where there is a lot on, but don’t forget customers talk and don’t care whether it is a frantic time for you. They don't care if you are busy. They just want help to ensure a smooth customer experience.

Remember, never be too busy for a customer whether they are an internal customer - your colleagues - or an external customer.