EDITORIAL - Attitude change necessary

Many in Barbados are currently going through a rough period as the country is trying to regain its footing from a slowing in economic activity. In addition, the dissolution of Parliament occurred on March 6 and now Barbadians are awaiting the General Elections that are expected to occur within the 90 days subsequent to that date. However, when Barbadians go to the polls to elect a Government, those who are elected will be tasked with continuing the job of putting the economy back on track and Barbadians will be expected to lend the necessary support to Government through their labours for this to happen.

It is necessary that the traditional values of friendliness, helpfulness and willingness to serve be reinforced in the Barbadian psyche, especially at this time, because this can enhance development and our future as a country with regard to the way we do business with residents and visitors alike. This extends to those in Government offices, some of whom believe that their jobs are never going to be in jeopardy, but are also feeling the negative effects of the global economic problems and allowing them to reflect in their attitudes toward customers.

At a time when Government is fighting for Barbadians to retain their jobs – because the power of the consumer is also important – this cooperation on the part of the workforce is essential. We have also faced international scrutiny with the sewage problems on the south coast, where some countries issued advisories to their people who were travelling here.

We realise the potential damage of the negative attitudes that have been allowed to circulate within the business environment in Barbados. Many customers from various backgrounds are more educated in service excellence and they expect nothing less than the best from service providers. Tourists come to our shores – not because the have to, but because they believe they can benefit from the Barbadian experience. Therefore, an increase in negative behaviour will drive them away and we cannot afford for this to happen. An overall improvement in service excellence would be a boost for the country’s morale while increasing the volume of business within Barbados.

We need to pay attention to the little details and improve slowly in many areas. Some of us are guilty of allowing a ‘small-island mentality’ to affect the goals that we set for our success. We must set our goals and each one of us must be motivated to make an effort to stand out, especially amongst other countries who have long realised that customer service and a co-operative attitude are key components in standing out as the ideal place in which to do business.

We must always bear in mind that with the availability of social networking, it is easy for customers to share bad experiences as well as good ones. It is therefore necessary to ensure that
customers have more positive than negative encounters.

Hence, we must find solutions to enhance the mindset of our population so that we can do better in the long-term. The onus is on everyone to be mindful of the fate that we are crafting for future generations with the current attitudes that are increasingly becoming visible, especially among the workforce.