Why do hotel service people wait until you’re checking out to ask:
How was everything?
What’s the point? I believe the Marriott properties are the only ones we’ve been in where they actually ask that question throughout your stay.
What’s the point in asking a question after the availability to fix the problem has passed? Shouldn’t we apply that question to more than a hotel stay?
There’s a new term bantered about in the field of Human Resources: A Stay Interview.
What a novel idea. Why do companies wait until the employee is leaving to have an Exit Interview with them and inquire as to why they gave notice? How about interviewing your employees—the stars and the under performers. Ask: Why are you still here? What makes you stay? What makes you think about leaving?
Relationships need Service Check-ins, too
Why do people in relationships think their mate is a mind reader and that, they’ll figure “it” out sooner or later and give me what I need? Let’s be real. We speak different languages—men and women, men and men, women and women. We all have to clarify our words or wind up confusing each other far more than we’re getting through.
I had coffee recently with someone whose wavelength was so different from mine as far as humor goes that I eventually gave up trying to make any jokes.
And I’m a funny woman.
And perhaps he’s a funny guy. With other people.
Marriage Requires Service Check-ins, too
But we sure didn’t click on that level.
Alex? Our humor is so warped that we spend entirely too much time laughing. For two grown-ups without kids around to entertain them, the house chuckles. I think part of that is because we check in with each other from time to time:
- Are you happy?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you today?
- Do you love me? (I usually add: more than your 1964 GTO? To which he graciously responds, yes, adding: more than your MacBook? To which I sigh and give what I hope is a convincing, yes.)
The point is that unlike the hotels we stay in, we ask that question periodically: How’s it going and do I need to change anything I’m doing to move the needle up the scale?
Do you check in with your friends? How am I doing in our friendship? Do you need anything? In the rushed craziness that is modern life, it’s easy to forget about the people who are important to us. Easy to forget to ask how they truly are and wait for a real answer.
Oh, you are so right about it dear 😀
Thanks for sharing this thought provoking post.
Thanks, Sushmita.
What a lovely thought, although I have to tell you during all those years of practically living in hotels if I’d had to deal with people repeatedly checking in with me during my stay I’d have probably been a bit testy with my responses. 🙂 On the other hand, this makes perfect sense when it comes to those near and dear as well as clients. Thanks for the inspirational reminder!
Oh yeah, I hear you, Marquita, but like Doreen said, it’s nice to get that call after you check into the room asking if it’s okay. I wouldn’t want someone to ask me repeatedly–like I wouldn’t want my husband for friends to ask all the time either! ha!
I love the reminder to check in with friends and family. The stay interview is a fantastic concept too. What a great way to keep the best people in your personal and professional life. And now I need to say hello to a few pals and ask how I’m doing as a friend to them!
I’ll bet those friends were really happy to catch up with you, Jen!
It’s just like in a relationship when you invest so much time and energy. Maybe the other person doesn’t care enough, isn’t mature enough, or it just doesn’t work out. Then their perfect and do everything right for the next person they meet. They take all their lessons and do everything right. I guess that’s the point of asking how everything was when people leave hotels or during exit interviews; to make it right for the next person. Lol.
Ha! I hear you, Danielle, we make folks better for the next person. What’s up with that? lol
Great post, Seester, and a good reminder!
Have I checked in with you lately, Seester? 🙂
I think it is a great idea to check in with friends in that way. We can often feel like we’re being there for someone else, but that might not be the case. We often treat others we care about in the way we’d like to be treated. But your friend might have different needs and wants. So treating them the way you would like to get treated might not work for them. And in reality, when we get busy we can lose sight of everything and forget to be there for others at all.
And yes, why just the exit interview when we quit? Why not find out what we need to be happy, productive workers now? Really great point.
Great thoughts, Erica. We do have to see that we’re treating each other the way we specifically need–otherwise the “effort” is wasted. I have a friend just beginning a medical journey and a few of us are trying to figure out the best way to be there–what the person needs vs. what we think they need. It’s tough, sometimes, to figure out, but worth it.
Much needed article Rose Mary. In our fast paced lives, we often forget to “check in” with people. With social media more prevalent than ever we can deceive ourselves into believing we are in people’s lives when in fact we only communicate with them via a screen. We see updates of family photographs and their days/nights out but we are not part of it.
Thank you for writing on this topic.
You say that so nicely, Phoenicia. Sometimes I feel slapped upside my head when I suddenly realize that yes, I’ve communicated with this friend–but it’s only been on Facebook. Definitely time to pick up the phone and chat.
Reading your Post made me realise that I have not been in touch with my siblings or friends recently to ask how they were as both my husband and I had been unwell. In fact, we hadn’t been in touch with our children either as we didn’t want them to worry about us. Yes, I did feel very down and could have done with a friend but I didn’t reach out to anyone as I didn’t want them to feel obliged to come and see us as we were unwell!! After reading your post – I am not sure whether I did the right thing by not contacting anyone.
Fabulous post, Rose. I like the hotels that phone ypu a few minutes after you’ve checked in to ask if everything is alright and to be in touch ion they can assist in any way. That clears the way to open dialogue.
I love how you ask your husband, “On a scale of 1-10, where are you today?” I’m going to incorporate into our daily interactions. I have a few friends who are great at checking in to see how things are going as they know I have a lot of responsibility. In fact, today, one did just that! I really appreciate that and try to reciprocate as often as I can.
I love when hotels do that, too, Doreen. It amazes me each time. I think the Hilton Hawaiian Village was on top of it that way during our December trip. Great service.
Husband and check ins–it is so easy to forget to do this. Particularly when you both work from home, so you’re around each other A LOT. Hope Reg gets a kick out of it.
Glad to provide a morning chuckle for you, PK!
Ohmigosh, don’t I sing your praises loudly enough? Happy to say it again: Thanks for being an amazing friend supporting wholeheartedly my writing–business, blogging and novels! You’re the best!
(You’re amazed that Jethro picks me over the car, right?)
As usual, I laughed reading your blog! So how am I doing as your friend? Please reply personally as I don’t want to be blasted in public. But if I’m doing a great job, please feel free to sing my praises right here, right now. BTW, you are doing an amazing job of being my dear, dear friend. Thank you for all that you do for me, Rose! Do you need anything? I’m here for you…I hope you always know that!