It was a very eventful weekend for me, thus the lack of posts! It was a weekend full of being of service to others, which is my bread and butter :) It began with the meticulous, stressful, but a very fun setup of the fundraising event for the nonprofit organization that I mentioned awhile back. The event was a huge success, by the way...
This morning when I read Tom Vander Wells comment to my post, What Company Provides Consistent Service?, it opened my mind up to nonprofit organizations and the level of service that they provide.
This is what Tom said:
"ALL?! ALL customers satisfied?! Whew, Maria, that's a tough one. As long as the company and customers are all human beings, I'm afraid you have a long search on your hands! What was it about "you can't please all the people all the time?"
Nonprofit organizations are not in the business to make money. Yes, they receive money to use it in the service of others, but their sole purpose is helping others. Every nonprofit that I have been a part of is dedicated to making life easier for people. Volunteers go out into the community to make sure people are happy. They give their heart and soul to the people they help and take nothing in return.
Can you just imagine if everyone had that mindset?
The "customers" of nonprofits are the people that they serve. Of course, they don't actually pay for the services though. But wouldn't you say that generally all the customers are satisfied by the help that they receive?
I think, Maria, that my comment came from my belief that there is a percentage (albeit small) in the populace that will never be satisfied no matter what you do for them. I have witnessed customers who WANT to be angry and dissatisfied. Obviously, there are much deeper issues there than that of customer service.
Non-profits will give products or services to the needy and there will be a few who scoff and complain that the services were too little or too late. The products are not what they really needed.
I know I sound cynical. Please understand that I belive that there are very few who are like this. Yet, they do exist. We must accept that we can do everything possible and give our very best and it will never completely satisfy some.
Posted by: Tom Vander Well | May 22, 2006 8:01 PM | Permalink to Comment