I’d love to construct a call center at the top of the world, in Tibet.

It’s breathtakingly beautiful, for one thing.

But if I could staff the place with monks, how cool would that be?

Do you think they’d be rattled by rejection? Put off by pettiness? Customers would present fine challenges to them, and really test their abilities to transcend.

One thing these contemplatives would do is to make sure that their breathing keeps pace with their work.

In fact, we might want to emulate these practices:

(1) Before answering a line, they’d breathe in advance. This would center them, calm them, and bring them into present moment consciousness. Also, it would carry vital oxygen to their brains, making them alert.

(2) If provoked, or unduly agitated during a conversation, they would draw deep breaths to restore equanimity. If asked a hostile or unusual question, they’d again pause and breathe, before responding.

(3) Between calls, they’d breathe deeply, once more. This clears the air of the last conversation, symbolically noting that the

As you can see, my staff of monks would be real breathers!

You don’t have to be religious or philosophical to follow their wisdom. Make a point of taking a deep breath between each call you make or take.

I’m sure you’ll find, as I do, that it is a powerful device that energizes and relaxes you at the same time.

Next lesson: group chanting!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman © 2006

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. A frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide, Gary’s programs are offered by UCLA Extension and by numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. Gary is headquartered in Glendale, California. He can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

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