COVID traveling? No problem, let’s go to Switzerland!
As I am traveling in between cities from Interlaken to Montreux in Switzerland, I did a quick reflection. Reflection about where I’m at, how I got there, and what I want to achieve from here on. Being exposed to a completely different culture has given me a new perspective on the things that matter, the things that are perceived to be important but they really aren’t. For one, COVID is non-existent in this country. Or at least the mindset of living with the virus has set in with the majority, & they’ve adapted as a nation. Pretty amazing to be in this moment with this country as they return to the new normal of life with COVID. Ski trips, carnivals, gatherings to listen to bands play music…etc. This has simply shown me that our mind is a powerful tool in changing our perception of things such as COVID.
Stepping away from the daily grind has also given me some light into a few revelations, that I will pen down in points. You may think, what does this have to do with everything else I’ve been writing about? Let’s see.
1. This place has amazing customer experience
And I mean, amazing. For starters, one of the accommodations provided a towel warmer with towels already hung on the stand, ready for use. Imagine stepping out of a hot shower in winter, only to find yourself feeling warm with the towel wrapped around you. It’s the small things that matter, and every little action taken to make the accommodation more comfortable has added up to a great experience so far.
Train inspectors greet you with the loveliest of greetings every ride, & some inspectors, upon realising we’re travelers, gave us tips, suggestions, & even came back to us with updates on which platform / timings to look out for. It’s the value added service that they’ve done in spite of them having to comb the entire train for ticket inspection. The inspector that struck me the most was the trip to Rhine Falls - she went above and beyond in ensuring we knew where to go and what platform to stay at.
Rhine Falls, Switzerland
On top of that, their trains. Leg rests, coat hangers, things that do not necessarily make the biggest impact as you’re getting from Point A to Point B, but it has certainly added to the experience of taking the train.
Every restaurant & store that we’ve been into, has not disappointed either.
It may seem like a ‘given’, but for someone who reads a little more into what an amazing experience is, Switzerland has definitely checked the boxes so far. And what really matters? Superior customer service, going above and beyond, & thinking in the lens of a customer. Nothing complex really.
2. Simplicity is the unlock to genuine delight
A very interesting point that we’ve observed this trip, is that residents here are generally happy/satisfied. This came from the many greetings we’ve gotten from the locals, as well as looking at the genuine smiles & passion from them. One key event was in Lucerne when we were having drinks at a restaurant, & the waiters (owners?) were immersed in their jobs & seemed genuinely happy to be going about their work. Similar event happened in Spiez as well when we were chilling in Rox Music bar. I mean, what’s there not to like being surrounded by sun, snow, sky, water, and loads of alcohol? ;P
One of my main takeaways here is to keep it simple. Nothing complex, nothing complicated, and it just works.
Bar in Lauterbrunnen where they served hot wine
3. Slow down & reflect before going the next mile
We often run too fast all the time given the pace of life back in Singapore. Stepping away & immersing into another culture has taught me that we don’t need to keep running. We don’t need to be achieving things one after another, without realising what we’ve actually done. Slowing down & properly absorbing the details, reflect, write, sketch…has helped me greatly in planning my next step, my next move, my next growth path. Gaining the clarity for yourself will eventually help others around you.
Of course, the amazing scenery really helps ;)
More so than that, the opportunity to take the time to slow down doesn’t come easy, but I highly recommend everyone to take it periodically, especially in our new normal.
How does this matter in the context of design, or creation for that matter?
At some point in time, we’ve got to stop going so fast without doing retrospectives. And it’s the hardest to do when the world is chasing behind you. The design team takes the time to do monthly reflections & retros that will help our team’s growth with transparent feedback.
4. Purpose
One topic that has been coming up this trip is redefining Purpose. As cliche as it sounds (& trust me I know it’s damn cliche), this is food for thought. Staring at the snow mountains & the Alps amidst living life, truly calls for a rethink about our purpose. Do I truly know my why? Or am I simply going with the flow and living how others are expecting?
Quote written on the Top of Zurich, Switzerland
Linking this back to everything we do, as designers, as leaders, if we lead decisions by the wrong why, everything we do will not come to fruition as much as you’d like it to. But if we know why we’re doing certain things, why the decision is made, and where the end goal & outcome is, things become much easier. Hence, more so than ourselves, it is also our responsibility to ensure we are constantly realigning the team’s purpose. Who are we, what do we stand for, and how are we bringing about value?
To sum it up…I don’t want to be back in Singapore. :')
Montreux, Switzerland