5 great books for inspiring problem solving with customers

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Walking the Talk

Here are 5 of Walking the Talk's recommended problem solving with customers reads. 


The Customer Manifesto; | Pamela Herrmann
The Customer Manifesto; | Pamela Herrmann

"This book summarizes for a general audience results from a query put to customers, "What would a business have to do in order to earn your loyalty?" The Customer Manifesto is the result of that query. By understanding what customers want to feel when they transact with a business, we can quickly adapt the way in which we interact with them with the goal of growing the rela-tionship to the level of evangelist -- someone who will willingly and happily provide the critical social proof through business rat-ings and review websites, and through social networking. This book provides best practices from the highest rated busi-nesses in hospitality and the insights from enterprise level busi-nesses that have invested billions of dollars on customer insights in order to improve the way they do business. We've taken these principles and applied them to The Customer Manifesto so that lo-cal businesses can learn how to create an exceptional customer experience with every transaction. The stories and lessons are presented in the framework of the retail business, but these principles very much apply to the serv-ice based business where customers may be calling you, or an on-line business where you are measuring & monitoring the customer experience through the lens of your website analytics. Technology is an amazing tool for growing sales, but it is a waste of the two most valuable resources a small business has -- that of time and money -- if the customer experience is fair to middling. An exceptional experience is created when we prove to customers that they are valued and appreciated with every action, interaction, reaction & transaction."

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Igniting Customer Connections | Andrew Frawley

Igniting Customer Connections | Andrew Frawley

"Igniting Customer Connections explores how organizations of all sizes can build powerful and profitable customer relationships in a today's increasingly complex, fast-paced, and fragmented marketplace. Written by the president of one of the world's largest marketing firms, the book provides expert insights about connecting with customers effectively across all channels and over time. The central premise is a refreshingly different, evidence-based approach called Return On Experience and Engagement, or ROE2, which delivers a new way to inspire and measure customer connections—and improve business results. The traditional marketing campaign—a battle for attention with a clear launch date and endpoint—no longer works. Marketing is faster and more complex than ever, and consumers now have the power to turn off the message. Igniting Customer Connections explores the benefits of a new approach that enables companies to connect with customers, rather than just talk at them. The key to winning customers and building long-term business is creating positive customer experiences that inspire ongoing engagement—from Facebook "likes" to purchase decisions. Based on data and stories drawn from dozens of top brands and thousands of consumers, Igniting Customer Connections helps marketers create long-term brand equity and sustainable business growth. "

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Thinking: The New Science of Decision-Making, Problem-Solving and Prediction | John Brockman

 

Thinking: The New Science of Decision-Making, Problem-Solving and Prediction | John Brockman

"From the bestselling authors of Thinking, Fast and Slow; The Black Swan; and Stumbling on Happiness comes a cutting-edge exploration of the mysteries of rational thought, decision-making, intuition, morality, willpower, problem-solving, prediction, forecasting, unconscious behavior, and beyond. Edited by John Brockman, publisher of Edge.org ("The world's smartest website"—The Guardian), Thinking presents original ideas by today's leading psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers who are radically expanding our understanding of human thought. 

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Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization | Robert Kegan & Lisa Laskow Lahey

Immunity to Change: How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization | Robert Kegan & Lisa Laskow Lahey

A recent study showed that when doctors tell heart patients they will die if they don't change their habits, only one in seven will be able to follow through successfully. Desire and motivation aren't enough: even when it's literally a matter of life or death, the ability to change remains maddeningly elusive. Given that the status quo is so potent, how can we change ourselves and our organizations? In Immunity to Change, authors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey show how our individual beliefs--along with the collective mind-sets in our organizations--combine to create a natural but powerful immunity to change. By revealing how this mechanism holds us back, Kegan and Lahey give us the keys to unlock our potential and finally move forward. And by pinpointing and uprooting our own immunities to change, we can bring our organizations forward with us. This persuasive and practical book, filled with hands-on diagnostics and compelling case studies, delivers the tools you need to overcome the forces of inertia and transform your life and your work. "

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Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems | Barry Johnson

Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems | Barry Johnson

"Some complex problems simply do not have "solutions". The key to being an effective leader is being able to recognize and manage such problems. Polarity Management presents a unique model and set of principles that will challenge you to look at situations in new ways. Also, included are exercises to strenghten your skills, and case studies to help you begin applying the model to your own unsolvable problems. Polarity Management will increase your ability to distinguish between problems that can be solved and polarities that cannot be solved, and show you how to effectively manage unsolvable problems."

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