Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 1

26 This is no truer in commerce than it is in education. Par- ents today have an increasing number of choices for educat- ing their children, from public schooling to home schooling. Charter schools are in the middle of this mix. Businesses know that loyal customers are the life-blood of their organization. Successful educators know that they too have customers, including parents, students, commu- nity members, and fellow employees. During the past thirty- six years, while serving as a teacher, principal, and district level administrator, I have learned that “loyal” customers do at least four things: 1) they advocate for your school, 2) they refer their friends and keep their children enrolled, 3) they volunteer more, and 4) they interfere less thus giving you more instructional time. Not only that, but it is more professionally rewarding, even fun, to work in a culture that is focused on the custom- er (whether they be external customers like students and parents or internal customers like fellow staff and teachers.) It unites the entire staff toward a common goal. Over a year ago, I was approached by Kevin R. Mill- er, CEO and owner of VisionBound International. Kevin has enjoyed a great deal of success helping organizations transform their cultures through a powerful combination of leadership development and customer loyalty programs. He has taken his ground-breaking approach to customers in health care, government and business. His premise is simple but powerful: customers really only want two things. First, “solve my problem.” But they know they have many places to turn to for that. The second is: “leave me feeling great about the experience.” It is in the latter that loyalty is born. (You don’t leave Safeway saying, “Wow, they had eggs!”) Kevin wanted to create a similar transformational program specifically for educators (teachers, principals, I n this bold statement, Jeffrey Gittomer laid down the gauntlet to every business, and every school, in the world. It is no longer good enough to merely satisfy customers…competitors abound on every side that can do that. Those organizations that can win customer loyalty are the ones who will flourish. It all boils down to building a brand that inspires loyalty. Winning Brand Loyalty for Your Charter School “Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer loyalty is priceless.” BY J. LYNN JONES, ED. S. AND KEVIN R. MILLER, VISONBOUND INTERNATIONAL If you are interested in learning more about these loyalty and leadership programs, contact us at info@visionbound.com and visit the website www.visionbound.com