The "Three Ps" of Customer Service, And The "Four Cs" of Tech
When I worked at a gym managing the hospitality department, I developed a method to cut through the noise of policies, HR, member drama, angry customers, and lost item complaints and focus on what truly drives success. I called it "the Three Ps": Punctuality, Proficiency, and Politeness. Now, in tech, I’ve created a similarly condensed guide for myself, the Four Cs of Software Engineering: Comprehension, Communication, Composure, and Conclusion. I’m a fan of simple guidelines that can be subconsciously integrated yet impactful enough to maintain daily performance.
The Three Ps as A Hospitality Success Formula
At the gym, the hospitality role was chaotic, dealing with upset members, managing lost and found, and ensuring smooth operations. I shared the Three Ps with my team to simplify success: show up on time (Punctuality), know how to do your job (Proficiency), and treat guests with optimism and hospitality (Politeness). This framework was easy to remember and easy to implement, allowing everyone to focus on what mattered most. It worked like a charm, keeping thoughts grounded amid the drama and ensuring successful interactions with customers.
The Four Cs: A Tech Success Guide
In tech, I’ve faced similar noise; complex projects, tight deadlines, legacy code challenges, left-field interview questions, downsizing, and job hunting. All of which, I realized on some reflection, could be encapsulated into a simple directive, Inspired by the Three Ps, I developed the Four Cs to stay focused, consistent, and powerful-even when working with AI:
- Comprehension: Understand the problem fully before acting.
- Communication: Clearly state your thought process and logic.
- Composure: Maintain clarity and discipline under stress.
- Conclusion: Keep the end goal in mind, with a clear resolution.
Just as the Three Ps guided me in hospitality, the Four Cs have become my trusted guide in tech, ensuring I stay on track and succeed without getting 'lost in the sauce'.
Simple guidelines like the Three Ps and Four Cs have been my roadmap to success in both hospitality and tech. By focusing on a few key principles, you can cut through the noise and achieve consistent results, success doesn't have to be complicated.