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Our Subscribers Say...
I think Credit Today is fantastic. You cover many practical topics in the credit field that I use regularly. Just one recent example—a conversation on the ListServ about preferential payments—gave me tips that I used in an actual case. The specific information I picked up from this one discussion saved me $10,000, enough to cover my membership for many years!
- Steve Savino
Manager of Credit & Collections, ASSA Abloy Americas Division, New Haven, CT
Credit Today's Resource Directory and their online e-mail forum (ListServ) provide information on almost any credit-related topic you can think of. It is a great way to exchange information with other credit professionals. As the saying goes, "You don't know what you don't know."
- Scott Goen,
Credit Manager, Big Lots Stores, Inc., Wholesale Division
"We've recently started using the ListServ tool within Credit Today. This is phenomenal and powerful forum for gaining immediate feedback, ideas, and suggestions, relative to any credit topic under the sun, all in a real-time e-mail format."
-Javier Vela, Senior Credit Manager, Global Credit Services, JDA Software Group Inc.
"Being a part of the Credit Today online community is like having the expertise of hundreds of credit managers at your fingertips. These credit execs are willing to help you solve topical business issues as they arise. In the current environment of ever increasing competing priorities which reduce our opportunities to meet peers out of the office face-to-face, this is the most valuable tool you can have on your desktop! It's important that we have a mechanism to reach out to our counterparts quickly to exchange knowledge as well as to stay on top of industry trends."
- Victoria Artis, Director of Customer Financial Services, Pfizer, Inc.
"Over the last 10 years I've seen Credit Today evolve from a monthly credit publication into a quality source of information and guidance for the B2B credit community. The website, with its user friendly form downloads, will take you from examples of new account credit applications to bankruptcy forms and everything in between.
The Credit Today ListServ has become the pre-imminent online forum, providing an opportunity for discussion and comments (and occasional humor) from an impressive list of credit professionals."
David Dungan, Director of Credit
Justin Brands, Inc. (A Berkshire Hathaway company)
Fort Worth, Texas
"There are numerous credit periodicals available to the credit professional today. How good is Credit Today? Is it relevant? I always have to read it late, or online because my credit analysts want to read it the minute it comes in. When my staff wants to read a publication before I have a chance to read it then something is working in that publication. We have cancelled our other subscriptions. When you have the best you do not need the rest."
Ron Woods
Corporate Credit Manager-World Wide
Thales Navigation, Inc.
"The newsletter, coupled with the website and the ListServ, are to us, more valuable than any other credit publication, bar none. I try to use at least one article out of each newsletter for departmental training/discussion sessions."
D. Mark Constantine
Corporate Credit Mgr
Fulton Paper Company
"I love Credit Today and read every issue cover to cover. For me, the greatest perk of a subscription is ListServ. I believe Credit Today's ListServ members may be the most knowledgeable Credit brain trust in existence today. I have saved and categorized hundreds of contributions on a wide variety of topics which I refer to often. It's an easy and cost effective way to network and learn."
Doug M. Thomas
Kimberly-Clark Customer Financial Services |
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Profile of the Perfect Collector
What do credit managers look for in a credit and collection employee? If you're trying to be the best you can be, see how you fare against these performance traits. There are certain traits that credit managers hope their employees will exhibit on the job. Although no person will have all these traits, the more traits you have, the better it will be for your company and for you. Employees who go furthest in a company are those who meet or exceed the requirements of the job.
Consider the following list and decide: Do you have what it takes to get the job done right?
- Empathy. Do you have understanding and sympathy when it comes to a debtor's position? Are you able to communicate your empathy and still ask for payment?
- Imagination. Do you try to develop better collection approaches?
- Resourcefulness. Can you review a file quickly and still extract those points that need your full concentration?
- Intelligence. Can you absorb policies and procedures quickly and completely?
- Eloquence. Do you have good command of the language? Do you use proper grammar? Can you make your message clear both on the phone and in letters?
- Energy. Do you move quickly and with purpose throughout the day?
- Ambition. Do you want to move up in the ranks? Do your performance and attitude show your desire to grow?
- Confidence. Are you an assertive collector? Can you control a collection contact without being arrogant? Do debtors know you mean business?
- Enthusiasm. Are you eager to collect debts? Are you proud when you've made a successful call?
- Consistency. Do you consistently collect more dollars than the average collector? Do you consistently make more than the average number of debtor contacts each day? Do you keep consistent hours? Can people count on you?
- Control. Can you continue to produce good results under pressure? Do you control your emotional reactions when dealing with debtors?
- Teamwork. Are you willing to help your co-workers? Do you share new ideas or successful techniques?
- Leadership. Do people look to you for ideas or answers? Are you ready to give those answers when asked?
Granted, not everyone will have every one of these traits, but a good collector will have at least six of them. Rank your weak spots so that you'll know which ones to focus on first. Start with the most important trait and work through until you've improved in all areas. Such improvements will make you feel better about yourself, and your increased professionalism will make your manager feel better about you!Employees who go furthest in a company are those who meet or exceed the requirements of the job. Editor's Note: The above article originally appeared in the Credit & Collection Manager's Letter, a newsletter purchased by Credit Today in 2006. This article originally appeared prior to 2000.
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Outlook 2012
This month's survey explores...
- What the top problems are facing credit execs currently, and
- What the top improvement initiatives are.
Click here to participate!
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