Shows
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark Slatin#124 The Secret Ingredient to Customer DelightDo you remember the shock ending of The Sixth Sense? The film taps into that mysterious sixth sense—something beyond our usual perception. Similarly, in the world of taste, umami goes beyond salty, sweet, bitter, and sour to create a richer, more memorable experience. But what if businesses could apply this concept to customer experience? In this episode, Aga Szóstek, PhD—author, CX leader, and design expert—shares a powerful framework that parallels umami, helping brands forge deeper emotional connections, stand out in the market, and drive lasting loyalty. Drawing from her work with compani...2025-02-2735 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark Slatin#123 Stuck? Unlock Trust to Get Approval!Are you a customer experience leader facing roadblocks when trying to get your initiatives approved? In this episode, Mark delves into the power of trust with Charlie Green, co-author of "The Trusted Advisor," to uncover strategies for breaking through bureaucratic walls and fostering buy-in. Key discussion points include: The importance of building strong relationships with your leaders and understanding their priorities. Why expediency can backfire and how taking the time to connect with stakeholders can save you time in the long run. The Three Levels of Listening: Learn to listen beyond the facts to uncover the context and emotional meaning beh...2025-02-2031 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinAchieving Value Realization with a CX ToolkitBrad Smith, CCXP, who brings his extensive experience from working with major companies like Symantec, Yahoo, and Sage. Mark and Brad delve into the future of customer experience (CX) management and explore a variety of valuable tools that can be applied to enhance CX. Brad shares actionable insights on hidden value, value realization versus value erosion, and introduces the concept of value mapping. He also discusses the importance of having a clear brand promise and how it plays a crucial role in delivering a cohesive customer experience. Key topics covered in this episode include: 2025-02-0635 min
Next in QueueWe Don’t Need Another Hero featuring Mark SlatinTina Turner’s hit, We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) was the theme to the 1985 film, MAD MAX: Beyond Thunderdome. Given her personal history, one might imagine this song having meaning well beyond the movie’s themes. Afterall, heroes are typically portrayed as men deserving our admiration. Their flaws are often minimized or outright ignored because of their achievements. Be it personally or professionally, most of us want to succeed in our own right – not have some “hero” swoop in and save the day.
That doesn’t mean we don’t seek help or advice. We often need one o...2024-08-0240 min
Glassix SpotlightLeading change by building trust with Mark Slatin, CCXPWelcome to a very special episode of the "Glassix Spotlight," where we delve into the art and science of crafting superior customer experiences with Mark Slatin, a globally recognized leader in customer experience strategy and a Top 25 CX Leader according to CX Magazine. Mark, who also hosts the acclaimed "Delighted Customers Podcast," has a storied career in transforming organizations through customer-centric innovations and strategic leadership.
In this episode, we will explore a variety of intriguing topics, including:
• How Mark’s strategic initiatives at Sandy Spring Bank led to exponential growth and set new standards in cust...2024-07-2237 min
The CX and Culture Connection Podcast with Host Matt Egol of JourneySpark ConsultantsBecoming a Trusted Guide and Change Agent with Mark Slatin, Founder of EmpoweredCx.comWhat if your company became a trusted guide, not just a service provider?
Join Matt Egol of JourneySpark Consulting on this new episode of CX & Culture Connection Podcast as he unpacks this revolutionary approach with Mark Slatin of EmpoweredCX.com. Discover how to build credibility, reliability, and intimacy that transform your CX and company culture.
It's a leadership masterclass you won't want to miss, The full episode here https://youtu.be/QckZ4jeMMrk
#Leadership #CompanyCulture #TrustedAdvisor #CXTransformation #NewEpisode0:00 – Preview of Episode
0:16 – Intro of Guest Mark Slatin
0:56 – Journey in Masters and experience management at MSU
2:31 – Clue consciousness in the employees
3:33 – Thoughts a...2024-06-0340 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinDesigning Experiences that drive loyaltyHow can you design experiences to drive customer loyalty? Kevin Budelmann is an Experience Design expert, a professor at both Michigan State and Northwestern Universities, and authored Brand Identity Essentials. He brings over a quarter-century shaping design, strategy, and brand experience. We explore the converging paths of behavioral economics, design thinking, and customer experience—all through the lens of his extensive expertise. On this episode of the Delighted Customers Podcast. 🔑 **3 Key Takeaways**: **Trust & Emotion in Branding**: Kevin illuminates the critical role of emotional connection and trust in shaping the brand experience - impera...2024-04-1846 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinLessons from an ER doctor w/Dr. Judy Wolfe, Associate Chief Experience Officer, Cleveland ClinicDr. Judy Wolfe, who still practices as an ER doctor, talks about the transformative power of patient experience in healthcare. We dive into the critical role of trust, and how reimagining job titles and communication training can revolutionize caregiver-patient interactions. Dr. Judy highlights the urgency of embracing change management and the dire consequences of stagnation in patient care. Dr. Judy prescribes helpful tips from "shift hacks" to loyalty driver tips to "teach backs." Tons of gems in this episode from one the top medical care facilities in the world. Resources The Delighted Customers podcast website: h...2024-04-1143 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThree Keys to Driving Customer AdvocatesKeith Ferguson brings his wealth of experience as an entrepreneur along with his career in academia (MSU and FSU) to share his wisdom on customer advocacy. Keith defines customer advocacy and then we talk about the financial impact of having customers who truly advocate for your brand. Keith shares some common mistakes about consumer behavior through a visualization of the customer lifecycle and provides 3 actionable steps leaders can take to create more advocates for their business. Resources The Delighted Customers podcast website: https://www.empoweredcx.com/podcast Sign up for The Trusted Guide n...2024-04-0433 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinJoe Pine: The Origin of "Customer Experience," The Experience Economy, and What's NextJoe Pine is on my Mount Rushmore of Customer Experience. He shares the exact moment, quite by accident, that the concept of "experience" as the next economy after the service economy was hatched. In 2020 Mr. Pine and his partner James H. Gilmore re-released in hardcover The Experience Economy: Competing for Customer Time, Attention, and Money featuring an all-new Preview to their best-selling 1999 book The Experience Economy: Work Is Theatre & Every Business a Stage. Joe believes that goods and services are no longer enough; what customers want are experiences—memorable events that engage each individual in an inherently personal way. Joi...2024-03-2849 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinPink Zebra Moving: Differentiating on CX for Explosive Growth with CEO, Ron HoltPink Zebra Moving: Differentiating on CX for Explosive Growth with CEO, Ron Holt I can’t think of a better illustration of how to prove the ROI of Customer Experience. Ron Holt sees opportunities in bad customer experiences. In fact, he built a successful home cleaning based on disrupting a legacy industry by differentiating the experience his customers receive. The model allowed him to scale a one-store cleaning business into a $40M nationally-recognized brand with 90 locations across the country. Ron shared his entrepreneurial journey and the compelling story behind his c...2024-03-2151 min
The Business of Customer LoveWhy Customer Advocacy needs to be a top priority when it comes to growing your business with Mark SlatinIn this episode we spoke with Mark Slatin. Mark is recognised as one of the top 25 CX leaders globally by CX Magazine and is CEO of Empowered CX and a professor of practice at Michigan State University.Mark discussed why businesses should put more urgency into investing in a Customer Advocacy strategy now, and how you can get your CFO and other senior executives on board.During our chat, Mark also shared some key advice on how brands can build trust with their customers to help turn more of...2024-03-2024 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinWhat’s the Pioneering Edge for Today’s CX Leaders according to the NPS CreatorWhat’s the Pioneering Edge for Today’s CX Leaders according to NPS Creator, Fred Reichheld? There’s so much to unpack in this episode: Fred shares about a personal vulnerability What’s the right way to listen to customers? What is the huge mistake companies make relative to referrals? How do you know if you’ve won or lost? What is financial capitalism and why should it die? What’s on the pioneering edge today for CX leading companies? Will Southwest Airlines recover?...2024-03-1449 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinClosing the Gap Between Brand Promise and Customer Experience with Nick ZeislerSomeone once said Marketing creates the brand promise and CX delivers it. But too often there's a gap between the two that's eroding customer loyalty and business performance. Nick Zeisler is a Lean Six Sigma expert and Professor of Practice in Michigan State University's Customer Experience Management Masters of Science program. In this episode Nick shares some valuable insights including: - the significant concept of 'Brand Alignment' was introduced, highlighting the imperative of aligning a company's customer experience delivery with its brand promise. - the importance of continuous improvement in process engineering was emphasized, advocating for a customer-centric approach...2024-03-0732 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinBruce Temkin's Blueprint for Fostering Trust in CX and BeyondThis episode features someone who has been at the forefront of the customer experience movement, tirelessly leading the charge in understanding how trust shapes our interactions: CX luminary Bruce Temkin. Bruce co-founded the Customer Experience Professionals Association and broke the news on this episode, that he will be transitioning as Head of the XM Institute (Qualtrics) to the next chapter of his life. This is a very special episode because Bruce and I explore the critical importance of trust as it relates to CX and ultimately, generating positive financial results. In this episode: Why the XM Institute declared 2024...2024-02-2846 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Crossroads of CX and UX: A Conversation with Darren HoodEvery customer experience leader should know the basics of UX and how it fits into the overall CX landscape. In this episode, I talk with UX expert Darren Hood, who has 28+ years of human-computer interaction, information architecture, and usability experience. He's a faculty member in the Masters of Science in Customer Experience Management at Michigan State University as well as several other colleges where he teaches UX. The show is packed with useful insights and practical tips like: The parallel importance of CX and UX in understanding and improving customer experiences. How UX heuristics were applied to the Fa...2024-02-2239 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Contagious Enthusiasm and Customer Intimacy Quadrant with Mary PoppenEmployee experience and customer experience outcomes are inextricably linked. That data (going back to the Service Profit Chain) provides evidence of that correlation. But there's a lot of confusion about the difference between employee experience and employee engagement and the impact that each has on CX. Employee Engagement is too often overlooked in terms of it's importance to the customer experience and financial performance. In this episode with Employee Engagement expert, Mary Poppen, President, Employee Experience Division, HRizons, and Professor of Practice, CXM Master's program at Michigan State University, unpacks how to get to the magical state where "contagious en...2024-02-1540 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe 4 Keys to Leading CX Change with Patty Soltis, CCXPListen for some insights that provide a fresh perspective on how to overcome the challenges CX leaders face. We uncovered why being a trusted guide is more impactful than a heroic leader and how to prove your value through a winning CX roadmap. My guest, Patty Soltis, shared priceless insights on gaining influence, and I revealed my own journey of overcoming stakeholder resistance. If you're a CX leader looking to elevate your game, you'll hear useful tips and get a sneak peak at The Trusted Guide Roadmap™ Master Class. In this episode, Patty Soltis, CCXP and I explore: The...2024-02-0835 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark Slatin5 Tips to Improve Emotional Intelligence for Better CX with Sandra ThompsonHow would you rate your emotional intelligence? It turns out that the core of any successful customer experience initiative is deeply intertwined with the capacity and willingness of employees to communicate effectively. Emotional intelligence is a fundamental skill when it comes to communication. Sandra Thompson is an EI expert and ranks as a top 10 Emotional Intelligence leaders on LinkedIn. She joined me on The Delighted Customers Podcast to help leaders navigate EI and understand the very real impact EI has on the customer experience, and ultimately employee and customer engagement. "You have to put in the work!" Sandra says. "Some...2024-02-0150 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinLeveraging Customer Referrals to Drive Exponential Growth with Andy CockburnHow could you leverage AI to earn growth from customer referrals? Andy Cockburn, CEO of Mention Me, took his knowledge and experience of working with Bain and with Fred Reichheld during the infancy phase of NPS's launch to create an AI tool that does just that. The Earned Growth Model, advocated by Reichheld in Winning on Purpose, posits a very specific point of differentiation from other growth models. It states that the customers who love you the most are where you can mine the most future growth. But how? Andy unveils how he pioneered a model to translate into cu...2024-01-2545 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Power of Storytelling with Data with Leslie PagelImagine a world where AI not only understands but acts on unsolicited customer and employee conversations, tapping into a treasure trove of data — from contact center chats to doctor's scribbles. Leslie Pagel is a CX thought leader who led organizations across industries in CX strategy during her 20 plus years at Walker. Now she's helping healthcare organizations provide better experiences by empowering them to tell stories with data. We talk about ways that AI can be used to tell stories that simply couldn't be captured without the technology that's available today. In this episode: Utilization of machine learning to iden...2024-01-1845 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinRob Markey on Building Consistent Loyalty Through Trust and Emotional Connection, Part 2 of 2What are some of the most common mistakes that leaders make when it comes to customer loyalty? Join customer and employee loyalty expert, NPS co-inventor, co-author of The Ultimate Question 2.0, and world renown CX thought leader, Rob Markey in Part 2 of our conversation on value, loyalty, and loyalty programs. In this episode: - Common loyalty pitfalls - The impact of broken trust on loyalty - Where Southwest and Delta Airlines misstepped and broke loyalty - Link between rational, experiential, and emotional aspects of customer evaluation - How the three lens we use to assess value work together If you ha...2024-01-1115 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe 3 Dimensions of Customer Value Creation with NPS Co-Inventor, Rob Markey, Part 1 of 2The Three Dimensions of Customer Value Creation Rob Markey ought to know a thing or two about customer loyalty. Rob was a CX expert and thought leader at Bain long before he and his colleague Fred Reichheld introduced Net Promoter to the world. He is a leader in Bain's Customer Customer Strategy and Marketing practice and the co-author of The Ultimate Question 2.0 with Fred Reichheld. This episode was originally intended as a deep dive on customer loyalty through the customer lifecycle for my Michigan State Un...2024-01-0438 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Wheel of Progress: Designing Experiences Based on Deep Customer Desires with Eckhart BoehmeEckhart climbed through the ranks at Microsoft leveraging his background as an industrial engineer turned customer experience maestro. He sheds light on the transformative "jobs to be done" concept and how understanding the true gains, pains, and solutions can revolutionize how we approach customer satisfaction. We’ll also hear how Eckhart's method veers away from traditional journey maps to dissect the full 360-cycle of customer progress. With a deep dive into a real-world case study, we'll see how his process not only saves companies from costly missteps but also propels them towards delivering profound customer-centric solutions. In this episode: - Wh...2023-12-2850 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinSecrets to Success with Chick-fil-A Leader Elizabeth DixonElizabeth's professional journey is a tapestry woven with innovation, creativity, and dedication to enhancing the customer experience. With a career spanning over 18 years, including a significant tenure at the esteemed Chick-fil-A, Elizabeth's expertise has been sought after by illustrious brands such as Disney, Gap, and YMCA, as well as the Cooper Aerobics Center. As a serial entrepreneur, Elizabeth couples her business acumen with her artistic flair, notably stepping into the world of fashion as a pajama designer. Her passion for customer service culminated in authoring "The Power of Customer Experience," where she illuminates her insights through five pivotal elements de...2023-12-2145 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinEngaging Customers Throughout Their Lifecycle: Key Insights and Actionable Frameworks with Valerie PeckOne of my favorite stories is The Fisherman's Dilemma. It's a tale of an angler who wants to bring a treasure trove of fish home to his loving wife and family. Although he uses every strategy and tactic, he discovers a whole in the bottom of the net. Regardless of his harvest, the hole stole his bounty. Customer acquisition is an important first step for organizations to prosper. But much like the fisherman in the story, unless you've got a strategy to engage customers beyond their initial onboarding, they will slip through the hole in the net. Join the CEO...2023-12-1418 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Alien and Clark Kent: Demystifying CX Leadership from AAA's Head of CX, Bryan SanderWhat if you 1 in 4 Americans relied on the experience you led? 60,000,000 Americans rely on AAA for their roadside assistance when things don't go as planned. Bryan Sander, CCXP MBA, leads customer experience for AAA and joins me on the Delighted Customers Podcast (episode will drop tomorrow). Bryan's advice for CX leaders interested in strategies for growing credibility? He's assembled a CX team of over people helping AAA deliver outstanding and consistently good experiences to their members. Bryan is one of the sharpest minds among CX practitioners who I've ever met. You will not want to miss a minute. Tons of...2023-12-0747 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinHow Emotions and Memory Shape Business Outcomes with Colin ShawColin Shaw is one of the original CX thought leaders and podcast host. He brings a fresh perspective to what drives customer loyalty and the "why" behind loyalty. He predicts memory maps will replace journey maps because of the difference between our experiencing-self and our remembering-self. This episode is packed with insights that leaders can use immediately including: Colin Shaw is one of the original CX thought leaders and has authored seven bestselling books on customer experience. He brings a fresh perspective to what drives customer loyalty and the "why" behind loyalty. He predicts memory maps...2023-11-3049 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinManaging the Sludge Caused by "Red Tape" that Impacts Customer Experiences with Dr. Stephanie ThumDr. Stephanie Thum knows a thing or two about red tape. In fact, she just got her PhD in Red Tape Theory! In this episode, she provides a fresh perspective, discussing the pros and cons of red tape, and its elusive cousins, green and pink tape. Using these insights, we explore how these nuances can greatly impact customer experience and employees' engagement. In this episode: Red tape holds complexities: It has both its virtues, such as providing structure and thwarting fraud, but it can also lead to unnecessary impediments and sludge, ultimately leading to employee disengagement and customer d...2023-11-1727 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinCreating Emotional Connections: The Power of Loyalty Programs with Valerie PeckCustomer loyalty is the currency that sustains growth in almost any company. It means better business outcomes in key metrics like: Increased Revenues More Referrals Lower Cost to Serve Fewer Complaints Greater Forgiveness and much more. The question Valerie Peck, long time CX luminary, thought leader, and Managing Director of SuiteCX and I explore is what role do loyalty programs play and what role should they play in earning customer loyalty that's more than transactional. In this episode, we explore some important questions such as: 1. How do loyalty programs impact customer behavior, and what are the emotional c...2023-11-0921 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Four Factors of Trust: How Organizations Can Earn Lifelong Loyalty with author Ashley ReichheldDid you know that trusted companies outperform their peers by up to 400%? That customers who trust a brand are 88% more likely to buy again? And that 79% of employees who trust their employer who trust their employer are more motivated to work(and less likely to leave)? The importance of trust is at an all-time high - just as our inclination to trust is at an all time low, Join me and my special guest, Deloitte Digital Principle and co-author of the new book, The Four Factors of Trust for this episode of the Delighted Customers Podcast. We discuss the...2023-11-0240 min
Customer Confidential: Untold Stories of Earned GrowthEp. 223: Mark Slatin | The Trust Equation: How to Build Intimate Customer RelationshipsHost Rob Markey welcomes Mark Slatin, CEO of EmpoweredCX, to dissect the intricate dynamics of trust within customer experiences. Drawing insights from real-world examples, they explore the role of product and service quality in establishing trust, the impact of reliability and consistency in decision making, and the potential pitfalls of self-orientation. Delving deeper into the Trust Equation and explaining its different facets, Mark underscores the necessity of understanding the customer’s journey and perspective. They address the challenges of reliability, targeted marketing implications, customer vs. company centricity, the art of meaningful recommendations, and more. And they explore how to ba...2023-10-2632 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinA Candid Discussion About the CX Profession with Ian Golding, CCXPIan Golding ought to know a thing or two about the CX profession. He was a founding member of the Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA) and the very first Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP). He's the author of Customer What?, Keynote Speaker, and writer. He's written over 600 articles on CX and hosts International Customer Experience Awards all over the world. This episode is different because we didn't have any set agenda of what to talk about. We just explored some hard realities about the CX profession head on. I provides some deep insights about what CX leaders need to know and...2023-10-2549 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinElevating CX Leadership with the MSU MS CXM Degree with Dr. Tom DeWittI am thrilled to have had the opportunity to interview Tom DeWitt, the creator of the groundbreaking MSU CXM Masters of Science program, on my podcast. This program is the first of its kind, offering a comprehensive and in-depth curriculum for professionals in the field of customer experience management. Key Takeaways from the interview: 1️⃣ Bridging the skills gap: The MSU CXM Masters program was created to address the fragmented nature of the industry and provide professionals with the broad skill set necessary to effectively manage the customer experience. With 15 courses and 15 different faculty members, including industry practitioners and...2023-10-1715 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinPreventing Defection: Innovative CX Strategies for Gathering Feedback and Taking Action with Matt SelbieIn order to design customer experiences that earn their trust and loyalty, companies must have a listening strategy. While a wide range of philosophies around customer listening, my guest has a theory that he's built a business on. What are some potential consequences for businesses if they fail to address current customer issues effectively? Matt Selbie believes that the gap business leaders are missing, that's costing them customer defection, is responding real time and closing the feedback gap immediately. He identifies the downturn in customer experience levels across industries and has a solution that can help and help now...an...2023-10-1241 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Virtues and Values of Trust in Business, Part 2 of 2 with author Andrea HoweThe Virtues and Values of Trust in Business, Part 2 of 2 with author Andrea Howe In Part 1, Andrea introduced the Trust Equation and how we, as leaders, can apply it to become more trustworthy. In this episode we delve in to some real world examples to consider how the values (applied individually) and virtues (applied institutionally) to earn trust and deepen loyalty. In addition, this episode includes: - The story of a SaaS company breaks trust and how to avoid the same pitfalls - How building t...2023-10-0536 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinDecoding Trust: The Complex Meaning and Importance of Being Trustworthy, Part 1 of 2 with CEO, Co-author, Andrea Howe“Focus on what you tend to neglect” Andrea Howe, CEO, Author, Guest on The Delighted Customers Podcast Trust is the centerpiece of influencing others, of making real change happen. There's no one better to learn from than Andrea Howe, who is not only a trust expert, but she’s the co-author, The Trusted Advisor Fieldbook and the CEO of The Get Real Project. She’s led learning programs and consulted with big companies like Accenture, Deloitte, and Price Waterhouse Coopers, as well as boutique firms. Andea shared some powerful insights on why trust is so critical to change and she offer...2023-09-2832 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinStorytelling for CX Leaders: Revealing More Than Storytelling Secrets with 'Filling in the Blanks' Filmmaker, Jon BaimeStorytelling is a critical skill for any leader but most of us struggle with how to do influence others. This episode will be unlike any other for several reasons: 1. Filling in the Blanks filmmaker, Jon Baime shares his secrets of applying the art and science of storytelling with the CX leader in mind 2. The documentary Jon shares is both shocking and captivating and reveals a long held family secret of his. 3. It also reveals a long held family secret of mine - yes, I'm in the film. Jon breakdown how he crafted the story and how you can use p...2023-09-2146 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Art and Science of Business Storytelling: Crafting Engaging Stories That Inspire Change with Author, Dennis GeelenIn many ways, the Customer Experience leader has the most difficult job in the organization. Typically serving with a thin staff, a constrained budget, and limited positional authority, they need to get things done through influencing others. But how? Numbers along aren't enough. There's one powerful tool that CX leaders can and should become masters in, that's storytelling. On this episode of the Delighted Customers Podcast, Dennis Geelen, author of The Zero In Formula and The Accidental Solopreneur, joins me to talk about why storytelling wins over stakeholders and he shares a framework on how to tell stories that i...2023-09-1436 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Secret to Building Trust with Customers, Part 3 of 3How do companies like Ritz-Carlton, Apple, and Starbucks earn the trust of their customers? Building upon the trust equation introduced in the Trusted Advisor book, we explore the four variables that contribute to trustworthiness: credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation. Through real-life examples, such as a heartwarming story about a lost stuffed animal at the Ritz Carlton Resort, we uncover the power of trust in creating loyal customers. In this episode: Credibility: Showcasing professionalism, expertise, and trustworthiness through branding, communication, and online presence can instill confidence in your customers Reliability: Consistency is key. Consistently delivering on promises and providing a...2023-09-0713 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Trust Equation: The Secret to Trust Building, Part 2 of 3Trust is the currency of leadership. The most effective leaders don’t power their way through initiatives. They are masters at building trust as a way of influencing. Businesses that cultivate trust with their customers and employees outperform their competitors. We explore the Trust Equation, which originally appeared in The Trusted Advisor (now in it’s 20th Anniversary Print Edition). We’re going to explore the four variables of trustworthiness: Credibility Reliability Intimacy Self Orientation ...and provide some practical tips on how you can become more trustworthy. Join me...2023-08-3116 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinFred Reichheld, NPS Creator, Author Winning on PurposeWe have a special treat for you as we kick off a three-part series on earning customer trust and loyalty. In this episode, titled "The Fisherman's Dilemma and Three Types of Customer Loyalty," I will explore the deep connection between customer experience and elements such as emotion, trust, loyalty, and value. What's the connection between trust and loyalty? What are three different types of loyalty and why is it critical to know the difference? What does the data say about repurchase, customer referrals, forgiveness, and cost to serve? Why should customer loyalty matter to the C-Suite? What are so...2023-08-2610 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinUnleashing the Power of Customer Obsession: Amazon's Approach to Innovation with Dr. Francis Goh, Amazon Web ServicesAmazon has been on my wish list for podcast guests. Dr. Francis did not disappoint in a powerful and thoughtful insider perspective of what makes Amazon a consistent CX leader. We will dive deep into the world of generative AI and its potential impact on customer interactions, as well as how Amazon harnesses this technology to stay ahead of the game. Dr. Goh sheds light on the unique culture and principles that have made Amazon a global leader in innovation. As we explore the fascinating intersection of technology, customer obsession, and the ever-evolving bu...2023-08-1751 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Intersection of Customer Experience and Change Management with Changeologist, Doug Flory, CCMPChange management is a critical profession that focuses on the human side of change, utilizing various sciences and art to support successful projects and initiatives. Working alongside project management, change management ensures that individuals are prepared and equipped for transitions, driving long-term success. Doug Flory serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Change Management Professional and describes himself as a Changeologist. In this episode of The Delighted Customers Podcast, we discuss: Implementation of five levers for effective change management the different levels of change management maturity and the role of trust in effective change implementation he...2023-08-1049 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Digital First Customer Experience with International Bestselling Author, Joe WheelerJoe Wheeler, international bestselling author, technology innovator, consultant, and speaker. Joe has recently written a groundbreaking book called "Digital First Customer Experience: Seven Design Strategies From the World's Leading Brands." Throughout this episode, Joe shares valuable insights and practical tips on how companies can leverage digital strategies to create highly scalable and repeatable experiences for their customers. Joe also highlights some remarkable success stories from companies like Lemonade, Amazon, Starbucks and Nike, demonstrating how they have revolutionized customer experiences through digital design strategies. We delve into the importance of personalization, with Spotify serving as a standout example in the f...2023-08-0348 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinCreating Magical Moments for Kids Using Experience Design - woom VP Global Experience, April Obersteller"Why Reinvent the Wheel?" That popular expression was taken seriously when the founder of woom was about to buy their child their first bike and realized something was wrong. So the idea to consider the experience from a kids perspective and design a bicycle that wasn't just a smaller version of an adult bike was born. Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and Austin, Texas, woom has expanded globally and now has over 240 employees and has sold over 1,000,000 bicycles all over the world. On this episode I talk to April Obersteller who leads their employee and customer experience efforts. Hear a...2023-07-2739 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinJoe Pine: The Origin of "Customer Experience," The Experience Economy, and What's NextJoe Pine is on my Mount Rushmore of Customer Experience. He shares the exact moment, quite by accident, that the concept of "experience" as the next economy after the service economy was hatched. In 2020 Mr. Pine and his partner James H. Gilmore re-released in hardcover The Experience Economy: Competing for Customer Time, Attention, and Money featuring an all-new Preview to their best-selling 1999 book The Experience Economy: Work Is Theatre & Every Business a Stage. Joe believes that goods and services are no longer enough; what customers want are experiences—memorable events that engage each individual in an inherently personal way. Joi...2023-07-2049 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinHow Do We Activate Employees to Deliver “Consistently Good, Strategically Amazing” Experiences? with Megan Burns“Scale creates problems that empathy alone can’t solve” Megan Burns unlocks the key to how leaders can differentiate their brands based on the experiences they deliver to customers on this episode of The Delighted Customers Podcast. She ought to know...she spent more than 10 years as vice president principal analyst at Forrester Research where she developed ground-breaking research on how brands like Amazon, Apple, Starbucks, and Salesforce deliver great customer experiences at scale in the face of constant social and technological never-ending disruption. In this episode we discuss the underlying problems leaders need to solve and why so...2023-07-0851 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinHow to Know Which Levers to Pull for CX Transformation with NPS Prism’s Founder and Bain Partner, Jason BarroMost companies don’t suffer from a lack of data. They struggle getting the right data and to know specifically what changes they need to prioritize. The key is know what levers to pull and exactly how far to pull them Jason’s work with NPS Prism is nothing short of game changing. In this episode of the Delighted Customers Podcast we explore: The risks of digitizing everything The discrepancy between a company's internal measures of success and customer perception The dangers of buying share through discounting The importance of comp...2023-07-0648 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinWhy Employees' Mental Health is Critical to CX and Business Outcomes - Leah Marone, Psychotherapist, Mental Wellness Coach Leah Marone, Mental Wellness Consultant, Psychotherapist, Keynote Speaker, Author competed at the top level in Division 1 basketball. She brings all of the highs and lows of a top tier athlete to her professional role as a psychotherapist. As a board member and external consultant, Leah has been able to leverage her clinical background to develop solutions that prioritize both the bottom line and the well-being of team members and leaders. This is one of my favorite episodes because it sheds light on customer experience from a different perspective. In this episode: 👉 What’s the post-Covid “emotional hangover?" 👉 Why the “urgency cultu...2023-06-2949 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe ROI of CX and Drivers of Success with Augie Ray, Gartner VP, AnalystAugie Ray is a foremost CX thought leader, speaker, and research at one of the world’s most respected research firms, Gartner. He’s had a leadership role in CX practices at CX leading brands such as USAA and American Express. This episode is loaded with gems for business leaders who know the importance of putting the customer experience at the center of your corporate strategy. In this episode (we covered a lot so there are a lot of gems): Common obstacles that hijack customer centricity How Amex used NPS to make the business case...2023-06-2243 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Art and Science of Customer Surveys - With Martha Brooke, Founder and Program Director, Interaction MetricsWe’ve all taken surveys. Clearly some are better than others. Well designed and implemented surveys can provide business leaders with actionable insights that improve retention, reduce cost to serve, and drive customers loyalty - if acted upon. They can help companies serve their customers better and provide them with more value. Poorly designed surveys do just the opposite. Martha Brooke is an expert when it comes to customer research. Martha shares some of the secrets of best in class survey design with power and passion. In this...2023-06-1556 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe Biggest Obstacles to Successful Change Initiatives - with Amanda Schmoldt, CCMP, President, ACMPWhat are the biggest obstacles to successful change initiatives? Amanda Schmoldt has the expertise and experience that only comes from successfully leading change management initiatives at some of the most respected brands in the world like USAA and Neiman Marcus. Not only is she the President of the Association of Change Management Professionals, but she’s also the Senior Director of Change and Transformation Enablement at Halo Branded Solutions. Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Change Management (CM) are kindred spirits and have a lot in common. We explore the intersection of both...2023-06-0833 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinThe 5 Leadership SUPERPOWERS with Jay WeiserThe 5 Leadership SUPERPOWERS with Jay Weiser, Principal and Founder, Jay Weiser Consulting Jay Weiser is a leadership expert. He’s a graduate of the Wharton School, and has consulted at Accenture. He’s worked with recognizable names like Autotrader, Bristol Myers Squibb and others. Jay helps us think critically about the tensions that exist for leaders and how to leverage them to build superior organizations. In this episode we talk about: Lessons for leaders from SVB’s failure How Delta’s CEO provided 3 keys to success immediately following the Covid...2023-06-0141 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinWhy do most surveys fail to get results? with Rick Denton, Managing Principle, EX4CXWhy do most surveys fail to get results? Rick Denton believes too many companies rely too heavily on survey data and consequently don’t get results. He suggests CX leaders should look beyond surveys to - listen, act, and engage. It’s a simple, yet powerful model we explore on this episode of the Delighted Customers Podcast along with: 👉 What not to ask customers 👉 How to use customer feedback to inspire employees 👉 Why customer experiences are tanking 👉 The importance of aligning brand promise to experience 👉 What’s m...2023-05-2538 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark SlatinApplying Lessons from Football (Soccer) to Customer Experience with Greg Uglioni, CCXPWhat does football (soccer) have in common with Customer Experience? Greg Uglioni, CCXP, Head of Business Transformation / Digital Transformation at Kantonsspital Winterthur connects the two in a very innovative way. Greg was voted a Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Customer Loyalty 2022 Thinkers360 Greg joins us all the way from Switzerland, to share wisdom from his experience in both financial services and healthcare including: Creating value centers vs. cost centers Lessons from soccer that apply to CX How to win a championship by applying football (soccer) principles Meet Greg 2023-05-1834 min
The Delighted Customers Podcast with Mark Slatin"The Evolution of CX at Walgreens with Danielle Wipperfurth, CCXP, Director of Customer Experience "How did a neighborhood drugstore, founded in 1901 and measuring just 50 feet by 20 feet, become the pharmacy all others are measured by and one of the most respected American corporations? Charles R. Walgreen, Sr took a job at Horton’s Drugstore in Dixon, Il because an accident left him unable to take part in sports when he was 16. After working in several drugstores, he grew increasingly knowledgeable - and increasingly dissatisfied with what he saw as old-fashioned, complacent methods of running a drugstore. Walgreen saw a c...2023-05-1155 min