Customer Service ??????

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by tref

The customer is always right, doesnt apply on my 94x50... sorry!

No need to apologize, and I certainly don't disagree. (The customer isn't always right, anyway, but that's another story.)

Which one is it ["The tricky balance, though, is serving the game, while satisfying those associated with it"] & do you coach???

To the latter, no. To the former, like it or not, the two aren't mutually exclusive.

From my perspective, this isn't about worrying about if your calls are making people happy. (If you worry about such things, get out of officiating.) This has more to do with interpersonal relations, and effectively dealing with people who question what you do. In many fields, those with better interpersonal relations (often times, "working the system") tend to be more successful.

That's the brilliance of Rich's friend's approach. Those that don't ask tend to come across as apathetic. When it comes time for those in power to decide who gets what assignments, those that appear to serve better will typically get the nod. It may not be fair in some minds, but few things are in the business world. And when we want those assignments, we are looking to do business.