Customer Service Idea Bank > Building Relationships > The 10 and 5 rule for greetings
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The 10 and 5 rule is famous in the hospitality industry as a simple reminder to consistently greet people that you encounter.
- When customers are 10 feet away from you, use a non-verbal greeting such as a smile or a wave.
- When customers are 5 feet away from you, greet them verbally.
Why is the 10 and 5 rule important and effective? Because it reminds you to walk with your head up while looking for opportunities to serve. It creates a 'customer service zone' around you that makes you more approachable and may lead you to find an unexpected service opportunity.
You can also modify the 10 and 5 rule to suit your needs. For example, I like to use the 20 and 10 rule so I greet even more people.
Last updated on June 4, 2010 by Jeff Toister
