I’m excited to welcome Caitlin M. Smith to the blog today. I connected with her last year when we both were in the process of releasing our books. Her brand-new release this week, called “Where’s my change” looks amazing – especially for those engaged in the world of business and customer service.
Caitlin graduated from Lock Haven University with a degree in Secondary Education—English. After working in schools, she took her passion for teaching to the fitness world, then to the dental industry, where she spent time training and mentoring new business team members. She traveled to various offices, coaching individuals on both technical and communication skills. Caitlin has worked with customers, students, athletes, clients, and patients, giving her insight into exceptional customer service techniques. She enjoys challenging team members to shift their perspectives and hopes to equip them with tools to succeed.
Through her writing, Caitlin aims to inspire hope, provoke thought, and demonstrate the power of God’s unconditional love. At home, she can be found spending time with family, exercising, and playing laughter-filled games with loved ones.
Guest post by Caitlin M. Smith...
Love and Business DO mix?
What if I told you that love in business is a good thing?
No really, it is.
I’m not talking about the fairytale love of sparkly pumpkin carriages or birds that sing when you meet a special someone. This type of love isn’t triggered by Cupid’s arrow, and it doesn’t end in an emotional first kiss. Instead, it’s a choice that can drastically change your encounters with colleagues, customers, and enemies.
Love in business can be hard. Who wants to respond with understanding when someone yells at them? Who wants to show mercy to a customer or colleague deserving of wrath? But that’s what love does. Love shows grace; it chooses kindness, even when undeserved.
The Bible gives an excellent definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 [NASB]. It reads:
“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Love is more than a feeling. It’s often a decision. When we choose love, we act in accordance with this definition in 1 Corinthians, even when our emotions haven’t caught up yet.
After reading the above passage, you may be wondering, “That’s all sounds nice, but who can live like that? It’s impossible!” On our own, it is impossible, but all things are possible with God. We cannot love this way without His help. Keep Him close as you choose to love others. In time, you’ll find that love becomes your more natural response. It’s like learning a new skill: as you practice doing it over and over again, eventually, it becomes automatic.
The next time you’re at work, I encourage you to love. If you aren’t sure how, consider asking yourself, “If I were in that person’s shoes, how would I want to be treated?” and do that. Loving your neighbor as yourself is a wonderful place to start.
I share more about loving your customers in chapter two of my new book, Where’s My Change: A Guide to Job Satisfaction, Personal Development, & Outstanding Customer Service. I welcome your questions through my website.
God bless you!
Thanks Caitlin! Pick up a copy of her new book today!