Put The Employees First, And They Will Put The Customers First

Small business owners and operators cannot put customers first or make them happy because most of them don’t interact with their customers on a daily basis. Instead, owners should train happy managers to train happy employees, who create happy customers.

Some entrepreneurs may want to help a cause; others may want to finance a commercial trip to Mars. But the core reason anyone goes into business is to make money.

In a free market, good customer service is rewarded with more business — and hence more money. Poor customer service is likewise punished with fewer earnings.

We’re taught even as young consumers that successful owners want — and are expected — to put their customer first.

But is this really the case?

It’s not that all owners feel too good to mingle with customers. They’re just too busy. It therefore falls on their employees to put the customer first.

A competitive paycheck can coax most employees to do the minimum required. But an owner can’t be around all the time, and most employees can always find a similar job if that owner has to fold for lack of business.

As someone who’s worked in both fast food and retail, I can confirm it’s possible to run a successful business by…