Today there was an article lamenting the poor service in Singapore (apparently we've fallen from 8th to 21th position in ranking), and the seeming impossibility of developing local service staff into becoming more gracious, courteous, and even merely more informed about their products and company. It seems that, unlike Aussies and Londoners, we, like most other countries, are motivated, to provide good service, by money. While salary is always a timeless incentive, what ever happened to good ol' job satisfaction?

I actually did work as a waitress once, at a small cafe at Change Alley (it closed down shortly after I left cos the lady boss wanted a break). I don't think I'm biased when I say that my colleagues were actually very nice and warm people, and were equally polite and accomodating to our customers. But it was interesting to observe the various attitudes of the customers themselves. For one, it was the expatriates who were more generous with a smile and a polite word, and we actually felt like we were being spoken to as human beings, rather than mere faceless machines just 'ordered' to complete the task of collecting money in return for providing the food/drink, as we often would otherwise feel. Maybe, as pointed out in the article, our society is more hierachal than flat, and thus respect is dished upwards, but never downwards or even sideways. Have we lost a basic respect for a person as a human being, as fearfully and wonderfully made as the rest of us, irregardless of status or job or appearance? Or have we turned towards valuing those around us by accomplishments, by what we see in the outward?

I was in MacDonalds the other day, and a lady customer walked in. "Hi, welcome!" greetings came all around from the staff of Macs, and one staff even went right to the lady to welcome her in. But the lady, not one glance did she give to the staff. Not even a nod of acknowledgement, or anything to signify that she had even noticed their existence. Instead, she made a beeline to her companion, who was already sitting down, oblivious to all else.

Man. Would a smile hurt??

Of course, I'm guilty of the above too. There have been some days (which I'm not proud of), when I wear a 'don't touch me or talk to me' look on my face when I enter shops. I'm the kind of customer that prefers to be left alone to shop, rather than have a shadow hang by me. But I'd like to think that I have one small saving grace of smiling slightly to acknowledge the 'bye, see you again' that is often dished out by the staff.

Perhaps interning in a service line should be made compulsory across all schools. After all, to lead is to first serve.

Anyway. Got the below link via email. Def worth the webpage detour :)

HERE'S A CUP OF COFFEE FOR YOU...
Instructions:
1. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
2. PUT THE COIN IN THE VENDING MACHINE (on the end of your cursor)
3. CHOOSE YOUR DRINK
4. CLICK ON THE CUP WHEN IT IS READY
5. CLICK ON "APRI"

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.cartoline.it/pics/_zoom_flash.htm?immagine=scherzi_150404_01.swf

P.S Don't forget to click on the APRI at the end, it makes all the difference.