A Team Blogging Environment – Part 2
09. May, 2008 
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Several weeks ago I wrote about my thoughts on a team environment for multi-author blogs.
I argued that individuality (in the context of service) harms the customer, and the better approach is a team-based environment where customers (or readers in the case of blogging) are everyone’s responsibility.
I discussed this concept with a friend who is not familiar with blogging. He is, however, very familiar with customer service as he is a waiter at a local Mexican restaurant.
My friend is very popular among his customers, and his customers often ask for him by name. The other waiters do not like this, since waiters at his restaurant are assigned to tables on a turn-based basis. And since my friend’s customers tip rather well, the other waiters are green with envy.
This past week was a very popular holiday in America called Cinco de Mayo. It’s a nice excuse to grab some Mexican food and drink a few margaritas. My friend asked me to stop in, but warned me, “It’s going to be very busy.”
Indeed it was very busy. I was lucky to have found a parking spot, and I had to sit at the bar instead of my favorite table.
The waiters, whom often fought for customers, were scurrying around from table to table making sure everything was alright. That night, there was no set waiter per table.
I asked my friend about it a few nights later. He said, “That morning I came up with the idea. I told my manager that if we don’t work like a team, our customers are going to get slaughtered.”
When asked about the tip situation, he responded, “Even though I get the most tips, I felt it was better to share the tip revenue evenly that day. Everyone was pulling their own weight, and it worked out pretty good.”
In the end, Cinco de Mayo for my friend and his restaurant was a huge success. Many first-time customers came in to celebrate, and many returning customers came in to say hello. And, according to my friend, the day would’ve been a disaster had it not been for a team working environment.
Conclusion – How does this compare to blogging?
My friend’s Cinco de Mayo story is just a neat example of a person placing his customers’ interests first.
How do you think this example of a busy day at a restaurant compares to that of blogging?
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One of the takeaways I got from my friend’s Cinco de Mayo story is that even though he would’ve benefited financially from sticking to his own turf, he ultimately went for what was in the best interest of the customer. In blogging, I’d love to see this mentality towards the readers.
Good story. I imagine that if individuality set in during this holiday at the restaurant, then it would of had a major impact on the team as a whole. For instance, if they didn’t work out as a team, the would of lost revenue and thus, the team would of suffered and perhaps an employee or two would of been fired or had their hours cut. I think this story relates to blogging in that, there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear. Not to mention that with a team, there are people to lean on in case it’s a bad day for someone. If an individual is having a bad day, he/she has nothing to lean on.
I tried to conduct collective blog twice, the first attempt was not absolutely successful, results of the second — while are complex for predicting
I imagine that if individuality set in during this holiday at the restaurant, then it would of had a major impact on the team as a whole. For instance, if they didn’t work out as a team, the would of lost revenue and thus, the team would of suffered and perhaps an employee or two would of been fired or had their hours cut.
wow i cant just imagine this blog that much i was impressed with this job . and I imagine that if individuality set in during this holiday at the restaurant, then it would of had a major impact on the team as a whole. For instance, if they didn’t work out as a team, the would of lost revenue and thus, the team would of suffered and perhaps an employee or two would of been fired or had their hours cut.blah !! blah!!
I think this story relates to blogging in that, there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear. Not to mention that with a team, there are people to lean on in case it’s a bad day for someone.
I think it points to the importance of communication between librarians, computers scientists, researchers, learners and university managers… I imagine that if individuality set in during this holiday at the restaurant, then it would of had a major impact on the team as a whole.
Blogs have potential to help the organization develop stronger relationships and brand loyalty with its customers..Blogs can be a positive way of getting feedback..there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear
if they didn’t work out as a team, the would of lost revenue and thus, the team would of suffered and perhaps an employee or two would of been fired or had their hours cut. I think this story relates to blogging in that, there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear. Not to mention that with a team, there are people to lean on in case it’s a bad day for someone.
I imagine that if individuality set in during this holiday at the restaurant, then it would of had a major impact on the team as a whole. I think this story relates to blogging in that, there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear. Not to mention that with a team, there are people to lean on in case it’s a bad day for someone.
Good story. I imagine that if individuality set in during this holiday at the restaurant, then it would of had a major impact on the team as a whole. For instance, if they didn’t work out as a team, the would of lost revenue and thus, the team would of suffered and perhaps an employee or two would of been fired or had their hours cut. I think this story relates to blogging in that, there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear. Not to mention that with a team, there are people to lean on in case it’s a bad day for someone. If an individual is having a bad day, he/she has nothing to lean on.
I think this story relates to blogging in that, there is a strength in numbers and that while working as part of a team, there is still an opportunity for individual traits to appear. Not to mention that with a team, there are people to lean on in case it’s a bad day for someone. If an individual is having a bad day, he/she has nothing to lean on.
Team blogging is much better I think in the long run. It adds diversity – and it adds other peoples opinions. What’s great is the other persons writing style may attract visitors you never had before.
Thanks for the post I like to hear stories when you put the customer first.
I’ve worked at a restaurant before and I can see exactly how others get green with envy at customers who are good tippers. If we had the opportunity to pool tips, I think that the entire working environment would have been a lot better. It has to be helpful for the days someone is doing poorer than others, as long as they pick up the slack for other days.
This goes for everything — working together and communication is how to succeed in any business.