AIM FOR EXCELLENCE

While it is important that Barbados pays strict and undivided attention to excellence in the tourism sector, which is the island’s breadbasket, excellence must pervade every aspect of society.

This is the view of the Principal of the Frank Walcott Labour College, Doreen Deane, who also stressed that the Barbados Workers’ Union always placed significance on personal excellence because it must begin with the individual.

She was delivering remarks yesterday at the Mangrove, St Philip-based Labour College, at the opening of the third day in the five-day series of workshops, being organised by the Social Partners to celebrate the 2017 Week of Excellence.

Deane noted that how employees conduct transactions with customers will boil down to how they wish to position themselves in the eyes of those whom they serve and with whom they work.

She said employees should always ask themselves if they wish to be regarded as louts, or be seen in a positive and excellent light.

“We in the Barbados Workers’ Union believe that we should seek always to give of our best. We certainly do not ask you, whether you are a barman, waiter, customs officer, or immigration officer, to play act – that is to grin and smile merely to make visitors feel welcome. We ask you to always give the best of yourselves to whomever you may come into contact. Be your good selves,” she urged.

“Customer service is the support you offer your customers – whether your customers are visitors to the island or local shoppers, both before and after they buy your product – that helps your customers to have an easy and enjoyable experience with you. Please remember that you represent a brand, the Barbados brand, and whether you are serving a visitor to Barbados or a local shopper, your attitude, your behaviour, will determine how that customer reflects on the Barbados brand.

“Your approach as you serve your customers can have a significant impact on issues such as the bottom line of your organisation and your country. The other impacts include the reputation of your business and your country, as well as the competition they may get from other enterprises and countries,” she added.

The principal said while the focus of the workshop was on customer service and HIV/AIDS, just last month a report released by the HIV/AIDS Commission read the sexual behaviour of men continue to be a worry for the Commission which has sees the need to continue its Man Aware Showcase. The Commission has noted that research has shown that men did not use condoms consistently, had multiple sex partners, that consistent condom use was higher with non-regular partners and more than 30 percent of the male population had never tested for HIV. In addition, the knowledge of sexually transmitted infections was moderate and many men did not seek medical attention, but self-medicated.

“The foregoing revelation by the HIV/AIDS Commission does inform that a lot of what was being stated thirty years ago is still being said. That means that we have either forgotten that HIV and AIDS is still a threat, or we have not been adhering to the information which has been fed to us since the early 90’s. That means therefore that we must redouble the education on HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections if we are to save the lives of our workplace and our families,” Deane said.

The participants were opened to an interactive session on Customer Service Excellence, conducted by Training & Development Officer at the Productivity Council, Karen Collins. The Deputy Director of the HIV/AIDS Commission Lynn Armstrong made a presentation on the National HIV/AIDS Programme in Barbados. (AH)