Meeting Architecture: A Manifesto by Maarten Vanneste is a revolutionary guide for designing meetings that are highly engaging, efficient, and productive. Vanneste introduces a comprehensive methodology known as Meeting Architecture that focuses on the design and structure of meetings rather than the content or topics discussed. The book’s main premise is that meetings, whether in business or other contexts, are often poorly structured and waste valuable time. By applying meeting design principles, Vanneste argues, meetings can be transformed into meaningful experiences that lead to effective decision-making, enhanced collaboration, and a clear focus on outcomes.
"The Nordstrom Way to Customer Service Excellence" is a book written by Robert Spector and Patrick D. McCarthy that explores the customer service philosophy and practices of Nordstrom, one of America's most successful retailers. The book provides insights into the Nordstrom approach to customer service, and how it has enabled the company to build a loyal customer base and achieve sustained success.
Problem Solving 101 by Ken Watanabe is a concise and practical guide that equips readers with effective problem-solving techniques. Drawing upon his experience as a former McKinsey consultant, Watanabe offers a straightforward approach to tackling problems in both personal and professional domains. The book presents a systematic method, known as the "Watanabe Method," which provides a structured framework for defining, analysing, and solving problems.
Complaint Management Excellence: Creating Customer Loyalty through Service Recovery by Sarah Cook is a comprehensive guide that explores the importance of effectively managing customer complaints and using service recovery as a means to build customer loyalty. Cook provides valuable insights, practical strategies, and actionable techniques to help organisations handle complaints with excellence.
Douglas E. Noll’s book De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less provides a step-by-step guide to managing conflict and defusing anger in tense situations. The book is grounded in neuroscience and communication techniques that help readers turn hostility into calm, productive conversations. Noll argues that traditional conflict resolution methods often fail because they do not address the underlying emotional needs of an angry person. Instead, he introduces a counterintuitive but highly effective method: affective labelling, or the practice of acknowledging and verbalising the emotions of the upset individual.
"Leading the Customer Experience" by Sarah Cook is a comprehensive guide for organisations aiming to deliver exceptional customer service and create long-lasting customer loyalty. Cook emphasises that in today’s highly competitive market, providing an outstanding customer experience (CX) is not just a differentiator but a necessity for businesses to thrive.