I took my car for a service and noted that I could wait for it rather than disappearing for a while and then going back to get it which involves either trying to coordinate with my partner to drop me back or using their courtesy bus at a completely inappropriate time. I didn’t mind the notion of sitting there while the service was done coz I had my iPad and other business stuff to work on to pass the time. It was not an unpleasant experience except for the ubiquitous TV set blaring away featuring some inane morning show the one other person was glued to and therefore I couldn’t turn off or even lower the volume (public areas in every office seem to have them and they are both irritating and inescapable!).

What tickled my sense of humour was the name of the room in which I passed the time… Customer Waiting Lounge! Why remind me of the way I was expending my time? Why not call it the Customer Lounge? Removal of the word “waiting” implies a much pleasanter experience doesn’t it?

So, if you currently have a “waiting room” or something of that ilk change the name to client/customer/patient lounge. It improves the experience providing the “wait” is reasonable.

Come to think of it why do many professionals, like accountants, lawyers and the rest, make you wait anyway? I bust my gut to get to their office at the appointed time and then invariably have to wait 10 – 20 minutes or longer. If I can keep to time why can’t they?