I stayed at the Ritz Carlton last week on assignment for a client in Maclean VA.  Having traveled all over the world for business, I thought I had seen everything when it came to good service. However,  I was floored when, as I was checking out of the hotel, a young woman employee approached me, and asked if I would like some coffee (yes), and how did I take it (Splenda and milk, thank you). Thirty seconds later, I had my coffee in hand, thoughtfully wrapped in a cardboard sleeve to prevent any burning.   Talk about surprise service!  That was a first for me. Just as I was enjoying how nice it felt to be so taken care of, another employee directed me to the correct elevator that would take me down to the street level (the lobby level was on 4).  As I agiain noted  this exceptional service,  while walking towards the exit of the hotel, my eye caught a basket of neatly rolled up white towels sitting on the credenza at the door. A sign invited runners returning from their monring runs to please take one.  

Little things, but, oh, how impressive. Made me think of the little, but impressive things that can be done in business: e.g., putting the client’s name and logo in larger font ahead of, rather than under, your name and logo on the  first page of a presentation; sending along a note when news about a client breaks in the media; sending a hand-written Thank You note for business; introducing two people who might be interested in each other, even if there is no immediate reward in it for you; putting in extra effort to get a needed piece of information to a client, etc.

They say when everyone is buying, you should sell and when everyone is selling, you should buy. The same holds true in presentations. If everyone is using PowerPoint, then do the opposite: use plain old paper and pencil.  You will have greater impact and be more memorable.