In my first article for Nicole's e-newsletter published at the end of 2008, I gave you the following two equations:

No Customers = No Business

Since then, the world's economy has changed dramatically, as you all know. Budgets for marketing, advertising and training have been slashed and job positions that become vacant are not being filled. These are very typical of the cost cutting measures that are implemented in most industries whenever there is any business downturn.

However, the above equations have now become even more relevant as businesses grasp for every potential customer they can get. You can tell your sales people to work harder to get the sale and you can tell your front-line service staff to smile more in an interaction, but in these stressful times, will simply telling them to do these activities result in more sales?

So what do you do? What behaviour can you lead with that can be carried through your organisation and team so your sales people and front-line service people are motivated and connecting with today's customers?

Well, as Julie Andrews sang all those years ago, "It starts at the very beginning", and by that I mean it starts with "acknowledgement".

Ask yourself these questions:

- Do you acknowledge the person at the newsagency who sells you the daily paper?

- Do you acknowledge the coffee shop person who brings you a menu?

- Do you acknowledge every staff member you see when you arrive at work?

- Do you acknowledge a new staff-person's birthday?

- Do you acknowledge your staff when they leave work for the day?

- Do you acknowledge your customer or potential customer when they are being served by your staff?

- Do you acknowledge a team member when they have done a good job?

You see, today's customers are working harder to keep afloat and their time, and more importantly, their money, is very precious. They want to be acknowledged when they walk into a shop, a business, an accountant's office, their child's day-care, or a restaurant.

They want to know that their presence as a potential or current customer is acknowledged. And the number of my friends and business colleagues who are complaining about not being acknowledged is staggering.

So, lead the way for your company and your team. Acknowledge your people and the people around you. Whether it's a "g'day", a smile, a thank you, an email, a phone call, a quick chat over coffee, a compliment, acknowledge them. And notice a spring in your step as this acknowledgement action rubs off onto others and onto your customers.

Start at the very beginning, and acknowledge the people around you, and begin a habit that will serve you and your business well in these challenging times. Do you want to say hello to more business, or be forced to say goodbye to your business??? Acknowledge the people around you.

- TravConsult began operating in Australia in February 2002; led by husband & wife team, Trevor Lee and Lilly Choi-Lee

- TravConsult specialises in helping businesses maximise service quality in order to increase sales to international customers

- TravConsult creates and facilitates dynamicand interactive workshops, training & coaching programmes that empower participants with the necessary cross-cultural skills & knowledge to successfully interact with their international customers

- TravConsult's clients include leadingcasinos, 5 star hotels, airports, retailers, tour operators, attractions, wineries, catering companies and real-estate developers

- For more information, visit http://www.travconsult.com.au/