The Personal Connection
Why did everyone like to go to Cheers? Well simple enough, everybody knows your name! It’s a personal, fun, inviting place that accepts everyone for who they are. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you belong and entices you to return over and over again. It’s a simple idea that can make or break your experience. So all together now… “Norm!”
We have a small food market here in town. It’s nothing spectacular, family owned, and carries a limited amount of products. Other than their quality meat products, the next value a customer receives is its customer service. The first week after moving into town I made a quick stop to get some essentials. I was not ready for what would happen. After presenting my card to the owner for payment, which in turn brought out the classic “Just need your John Hancock”, he said “Thanks Andy!” Now, I never told him my name, he made it a point to look at my name on the card in order to make my experience personal. Even further, I usually go by Andrew, not Andy. There are only three people who call me Andy, my two college roommates and another good friend. But now let’s make it four! What makes this whole experience incredible is the every time I enter the store, I am greeted with “Hey Andy!” before I even make it to the back counter. I have never felt so welcome.
The power of using someone’s name as a way to create a personal attachment and invoke positive energy is an important element that can easily be overlooked. Educational services have even started using this practice of invoking confidence and recognition through the use of one’s name. My wife is a second grade teacher and attended the Teach like a Rock Star seminar presented by Hal Bowman. In this presentation Hal teaches the importance of building up a student by simply chanting their name. Think about it, two, ten, twenty people chanting your name over and over. What kind of confidence does that bring? If even for a minute it makes you feel like you are, well, a Rockstar. Our name creates such an emotional connection to even simple and modest details.
This is more than just knowing a person’s name. It is making an experience personal and enjoyable. This feeling can be created in many different ways. Discover unique ways to make a person feel connected and valued in whatever situation you can. You will draw them in and instantly put a focus on building a relationship. Connect, befriend, and both parties will thrive.
As always thanks for reading and I would love to hear some of your personal connection stories. Thanks!
