
Yesterday my husband and I took our young son Ollie to Wet’n Wild, a waterslide park at the Gold Coast.
We bought fast passes and over the course of a few hours Chris and Ollie got to indulge their inner thrill seekers with a continuous rides on waterslides that make me anxious just to look at.
Before we left, Ollie wanted to try the Flowrider, where riders can surf on continuous waves on a man-made flow of water. It does require some skill and there’s a risk of a wipeout and injury so of course there was a legal waiver to complete.
As I was completing the form the young ride attendant complimented me on my handwriting.
I explained that it meant a lot for her to say that because my handwriting has never been the same since I contracted sepsis three years ago.
She then went on to tell me that her father had just recovered from Sepsis and we proceeded to have a five-minute chat, comparing notes and agreeing how lucky we both were.
Quite a deep and meaningful conversation to be having at midday on a random Sunday.
When we receive a compliment, it activates a part of the brain called the ventral striatum, a region associated with rewards and pleasure. This stimulation leads to the release of dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter that enhances mood, motivation, and well-being.
It’s a five second strategy that immediately elevates the customer experience.
But recent studies show that it not only makes the person receiving the compliment feel good, but enhances the mood of the person paying it.
A study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that individuals who gave compliments experienced a mood boost and reported a higher likelihood of giving compliments in the future.
Making compliments an integral part of your customer experience process creates a cycle of kindness that makes both your customers and your team members feel happier and more engaged.
And you never know where the conversation might go.