Excel in Care, Courtesy, and Customer Service
Book Description:
Are you weary of rude, inconsiderate and incompetent conduct that has become routine in our society? Come on board to proactively address it. Clearly, major change is long overdue. Top level conduct is the best response to the low standards that are now commonly on display. You’re invited to join the team of folks who make championship choices. United, we make the best things happen.
About the book
Format: E-book
Published: March 8, 2012
Available: Smashbooks
View a sample of Championship Conduct here.
My Thoughts:
In Championship Conduct, Sandra R. Hicks transports us back to a time when common courtesy was the norm rather than a welcomed exception. According to her,
We’re in overdue mode to confront the massive decline in civility. Chivalry isn’t dead. It is, however, on life support. Responsible people need to be on board to slay the monstrous beast called, “No Class.”
Based upon the book’s title, I expected the book’s focus to be on customer service in the business world. However, she tackles a gamut of behaviors in various settings. Through her personal experiences and those of people she knows, she highlights evidence of society’s decline in proper “Christian” conduct, childrearing, work etiquette, relationship building, and customer service. I laughed as I read about how her mother came to retrieve her from her boyfriend one evening after staying out too late. I could relate well to that story seeing as my mother had a special knack for yelling at the top of her lungs when it was past time for me to enter the house. One of my favorite quotes comes from Chapter 6: Parachutes or Eagle’s Wings.
Scores of people labor at jobs that don’t fuel their passions. They get comfortable by the assurances of steady pay and secure benefit packages. Present economic realities, though, have greatly altered those belief systems. People daily do the work drill. They show up, go through the motions, perform with lax attitudes, count the hours to quitting time, and then go home and complain about how unfulfilled they are in their jobs. They do the grind year after year because they’re not inclined to forsake the “parachutes” to pursue work that can fulfill.
Although the author’s passion for the subject matter shines through brightly, at times the book seemed a bit disjointed and peppered heavily with her personal complaints about how others didn’t treat her fairly. However, she does spotlight many instances where individuals have excelled in showing care and concern for others. And while many people will go out of their way to voice complaints about poor service, Ms. Hicks takes the time to send correspondence also when she receives excellent customer service and she actually includes copies of letters she has submitted.
About the Author:
Sandra Renee Hicks, a native of Washington D.C., is a truth walker who worships Almighty God. She’s been a published writer for more than fifteen years. Magazines and newspapers have published her work. In addition, Sandra’s writing appears on Internet sites such as Faith Writers and Wryte Stuff.
Sandra desires to learn more from the diverse written skills exhibited by others in the literary community. She looks forward to be further enriched by the unique contributions of those who share a love for the artful display of written words. Also, the aim is for Sandra to publish more of her writing to impact in venues where others can be inspired, challenged, and transformed.
Sandra blogs at Lions Share Majesty and Torch Blazers
Disclosure: I was provided an complementary e-book by the author in exchanged for an unbiased review. Views and opinions expressed are my own.
I have to take issue with her comments on people not pursuing work that fulfills. The bills don’t stop coming when you decide you’d like to raise parakeets (or whatever) instead of work as an assistant, or a retail clerk, or a manager, or whatever. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy in this economy for people to save up enough money to quit the rat race as it once was. And if you lose your job, you lose your health insurance. SInce nowadays one medical bill can wipe you out completely and individual insurance is out of most people’s reach, many of them are too afraid to take the chance.
I have no solution for this, except we need to find a way to fix the broken system. Since all political candidates these days do is rake in money and throw mud at each other rather than actively engaging in what they promise to do, I have no confidence they will be of any help.
Hi Elizabeth, I think you bring out a very valid point. I haven’t figured out how to earn a living from the things that I necessarily feel passionate about and the bills do continue to come rather we have jobs we enjoy or not. However, I do believe that many times we get stuck playing it safe rather than following the urges to try a different path. I’m certainly not one to to be reckless and disregard my financial responsibilities.
Oh how I can relate to the frustration of people who are rude and simply go through the motions (and not very well!) of their jobs. I can’t count the times I have bit my tongue (unfortunately I probably can’t count the times I haven’t held my tongue either!). I challenge myself to stay very calm, respectful, and firm while advocating for myself or someone else instead of acting upset about the other person’s behavior….not always easy!
Sounds like a good and useful book!
Blessings and hugs Wanda,
Denise
You’re right it’s not always easy. Joanne wrote a recent post about conduct titled God’s Public Relation Staff that really made me think about how I’m representing Christ.
From your review here, it seems as if the writer was more honest than usual about her experiences, and that is good. I too can relate about the attempts (that is what they were) before the age of eighteen. Let’s just say, it was not happening. Ha! Honesty can be helpful. I was just reading an article this morning about a pastor who honestly confessed his struggles with sexual sins (assuming that his “ministry” as he knew it would be over”), only to realize that being candid with God and himself was the beginning of his true ministry with others who struggle with certain addictions. Most people still really don’t get how important conduct is. They think conduct is just about “show”, but even in the basics, such as love, God tells us the make it a conduct, a deed, not just a word. I truly believe that conduct is about balancing ourselves wholly to the purpose God has for us in everything we do. So, whether we are shopping or dealing with a “mean” person in the next pew, our conduct will always be in balance and with the right spirit.
Thanks LaVonne for adding to the conversation. I think we do people a disservice when we only present our triumphs and not our shortcomings. I remember an older lady at my church (where I attending as child) who based upon her regular testimony, I felt that living for God was unbelievable. It seems she never did anything to make her Lord ashamed. Yet the way she spoke to others often failed to be seasoned with God’s love.
It’s due time for character , conduct, and courtesy teaching! May God bless Sandra for her continual boldness to stand up and CORRECT what needs to be fixed.