MY EXPERIENCE

While I have been in and out of the work force I have learned many skills that I have then taken and applied to my personal life. The service industry particularly restaurants and hotels, calls for a manager who is capable of balancing both his staff and satisfying customer service. Being able to communicate with staff to assure that the job is executed correctly and that the demands of the labors then being fulfilled. Keeping workers moral up is also something a manager must keep in mind, whether it’s vacation time off or a bonus in a paycheck. Making sure that your staff is happy with their job and its environment boosts how effective and efficient a worker is. Ensuring a customer is treated properly is the manager’s job because that is the first person an angry client is going to ask for. By responding in a way that handles the situation quickest satisfying all concerns with out reprimanding staff immediately on site is the best.

Managers are the key entity of the service industry because they are the ones who are held accountable. Accountability is simply to be responsible to somebody for something. As a result if someone for example someone buys a MacDonald’s and heirs you to manage the place. You are excepting the responsibility of the food, service, quality, profit, staff and records. Every little responsibility that follows running a fast food restaurant. Profits and customer service are going to be your top two priorities and if you succeed with that you should have a well ran establishment.

The Village Concept

This week I learned about a new business concept that will soon revolutionize the level of service delivery for the City of Richmond Fire Department. In a traditional means many will not readily make a connection with a Fire Department as being a business entity. It is however. Businesses ordinarily provide products and services as is the case with the fire department. Our output is not however measured in number of units produced or sold, but rather how effectively we mitigate emergencies and handle customer service issues. The new village concept addresses a new way to approach customer service delivery.

The Village Concept decentralizes the fire department and places ownership for a community on the individual fire stations within those villages. Instead of calling a central fire administration to have your personal issues addressed, you can have your local fire station better meet your needs. By placing the ownership on the individual fire companies they are better able to respond to the needs of their particular village. The key advantages to this concept are increased responsiveness to customer needs, more creative problem solving, and a vested interest in the successes and failures of the village.

The Fire Service is now only slowly becoming an organization that understand the importance of good customer service and an improved responsiveness to customer needs. It has begun to learn from the successes of the business world and developed policy innovations that mirror that of many Fortune 500 companies. The new direction of the Richmond Fire Department, with regard to the Village Concept, will make it one of the most innovative fire service organizations and set the bar for other fire service organizations to emulate.

Business

I have learned many things about business from my past work experience. The first and most important part of any business is communication. Though cliche, communication is key. As an employee you should be able to speak with your employer and colleagues about anything that bothers you without feeling inferior. As an employer you should discuss any issues you have with an employee, with that employee not anyone else. I recently worked at Victory Lady Fitness Center with all women and that was an issue I faced. My manger would discuss things about other employees with me and though I didn't comment on it, it was unnecessary. I would know why and when someone got fired, or if she didn't like the person. That in itself was completely unprofessional as was the business itself. I also worked at Victoria's Secret which was also all women and the same thing happened there. Work environment is very important when it comes to any job. I have decided that I don't want to be in a business with an all female staff. That is harsh but after having two jobs with the same outcome, i just don't want to do it anymore. I am not saying that the same thing wont happen if I work with a male and female staff, but that just how I feel right now.

Customer Service plays a huge role in running a successful business. If you are dealing with the public then you need to know how to speak to them and handle your self in a professional manner. You are going to have people be rude to you, but you have to know how to not respond back in the same manner. Also everyone needs to be professional and if you have rules they need to apply to everyone not just some people. For example if Sara is late and gets written up, then Bobby is late and gets a warning that isn't fair. The rules need to be the same for everyone. needs to get written up also. Many lessons can be learned from working in different businesses, some good some bad, but I think the challenges we face help prepare us for later in life.

Business

I've learned several things about business in the past year. Last summer I interned in a design studio, my first real "job" in the fashion industry. As an intern, I wasn't ever exactly sure I was doing everything right. The company was a small clothing line based out of Charleston, South Carolina - but the design studio was fast paste and at times very intimidating. I learned there to always act confident in the work you do and the assignment you've been given. Half of the time I was there I had no idea what exactly to do when first given an assignment. Once I sat down at my desk and thought about how I would do things - I always finished the task with flying colors. I was always glad I figured things out myself before asking questions. This may not be the case in all situations, seeing that sometimes asking questions is a very good idea. In certain cases, I think you should always act confident and know a company hired you for a reason.

Another important thing I've learned is that when working with any sort of business, communication is key. It sounds very simple and obvious, but being organized and having good communication skills is extremely important. When dealing with things like production in the fashion industry, communication can make or break a line. Communication skills with manufacturers, buyers and clientele is what sells a product or a brand. Being patient and clear with request to manufacturers in India, for example, is a key element in producing a line successfully. Organization is also very important. Being able to pull up old files and documents to find out where something went wrong, or even what made something so successful is valuable attribute in making a business work.

Cafe Solace

Cafe Solace is a locally owned neighborhood coffee shop with some very unique characteristics. Our coffee shop will be open 24 hours, helping people stay awake during those last excruciating hours before a deadline! Along with our unique hours, Cafe Solace will provide live entertainment from 6:00 - 11:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday. We hope our business will bring the community together in the appreciation of local artist and musicians. Along with our entertainment nights, various artist, musicians, and poets will be available on a weekly basis to give lessons in specific areas. Cafe Solace will be the perfect place to come relax, work, learn and play - all while sipping on the best coffee in town.

CAFÉ SOLACE

The CAFÉ SOLACE Coffee Shop is locally owned and managed company.