Robert Bacal
Bio
Author, Educator and now semi-retired from my work in government, and in customer service training, in addition to having trained teachers and college instructors at various institutions.
Stories (16)
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Supporting Your Support Staff So They Can Support You
They usually do the most repetitive job tasks. They answer the phones, keep things organized, keep track of finances, make sure you have what you need when you need it, and are often the first contact a customer or member of the public has with your organization. They are also often the lowest paid people in your organization and often not completely involved or included in many events that happen in your office. Oddly, they may be the most knowledgable people in your organization about what really goes on, and, because of their contact with clients, can have great insight into their needs, wants and expectations.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Journal
Teachers Who Make A Difference: The Gift That Lasts A Lifetime!
Some forty years ago, I learned that the Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066. I have to admit that I've never been called upon to use that information, any more than I've been called upon to recite the various classical columns in traditional architecture. There's not a big demand, I guess.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Education
Scam Alert: Facebook + Paypal Enabling Bait and Switch Chinese Scam
Have you ordered something via a Facebook ad and received something different than what you ordered — an item with no value at all. And if you paid for it via PAYPAL you are probably up the creek without a paddle.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in 01
Ten Tips On Using Relationship Quizzes To Understand Yourself And Your Partner
There are tons of quizzes online (below is a list and links to a number of self-assessment instruments you can use free of charge) and in magazines that can help you better understand yourself and your relationships, but you need to know a few things to get the maximum benefit. Here are a few tips and suggestions:
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Humans
Five Simple Rules For Becoming A World Class Teammate
More and more often, employees are expected to contribute to the performance and success of their work teams. While it sounds great on paper, it isn't all that easy to work in a team, since often team members are different in style, attitude, commitment and work ethic. If you are a work team member, supervise, manage or lead a team, take a good look at these tips and hints which will make it easier for team members to contribute more productively to their teams, and decrease friction among team members.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Journal
Dumbed Down Advice From Dumb Customer Service Experts
You’d think it would be easy to determine what customers want. Just ask them. Or, watch them behave. There aren’t any other options. If businesses could get actionable and accurate information this simply, we’d have much better customer service, and companies would get a better return of investment. It is WAY more complicated. In this chapter we’re going to look some of the fundamental problems in the quest for understanding customers, and in particular, how we end up creating over-simplified and over-generalized descriptions of what customers do and how they make decision.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Journal
Teachers & Principals: How To Handle Threats From Parents
School staff are often on the receiving end of threat from parents and community members. There are two kinds of common threats that need to be handled differently. First there are threats of violence towards the school staff, or students. Threats of violence, depending on your jurisdiction, can be illegal, and since you can never know which ones are serious and which ones are simply meant to intimidate, all threats of violence need to be reported to the proper authorities in your school.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Education
Teachers Are From Pluto, Parents From Mercury, and It's The Children Who Suffer. Top Story - May 2021.
With the beginning of the school year, the "war" between parents and teachers begins anew. Both parents and teachers have the same ultimate goal: To provide the best education possible to students going to schools, which is a good thing, but there's a stark difference between the roles and responsibilities of each. Truly parents and teachers often seem to be from planets at different ends of the solar system when it comes to HOW to reach their shared goal.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Education
Ten Must-Read Principles To Guide Your Communication In Relationships
There are a few different kinds of conflict. First, and most obvious, is disagreement about an issue or situation -- substantive conflict. The second, and in fact more common in marriages and relationships is conflict around what is said, and how it's said. There are ways to be a peaceful communicator so that toxic communication gets reduced while at the same time enhancing closeness.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Humans
The Fundamental Flaw That Afflicts ALL Technology and E-Learning Strategies
One of the advantage of getting older is that one starts to see patterns reappearing over decades, and that's no less the case with the use of technology (or e-learning whatever that's supposed to mean) to teaching and training.
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in Education
Evaluating Online Credibility - Who Do You Believe About Social Media?
Q: You've been a harsh, sometimes abrasive critic of what you've called poor and misleading information about social media, customer service, and e-learning. It sounds like you don't believe anyone, particularly those that post on social media platforms. So, who DO you give credence to?
By Robert Bacal5 years ago in 01
