If you've ever built a house, remodeled a home, or have just done a small construction project then you know that construction can be a pain. My husband and I are currently remodeling a home and I am glad to report that thanks to some very savvy Home Depot workers in Port Richey, FL we feel that we've had some pretty terrific help.

One of the star service providers is Wendy (who I think is a project scheduler or manager). The reason I'm not sure about her job function is that Wendy has never said "Sorry, that's not my department." She has gone above and beyond the call of duty. I know I can depend on Wendy to find answers. She has even filled in for a person who started a project with me and then was off the day I returned with questions.

Another star is Tina, a kitchen designer. She has offered great ideas for not only our kitchen design, but other areas as well. She has even helped me locate items in other departments. Tina is very knowledgeable and has added to the fun of our major remodeling project.

Want to eliminate the "It's not my job or department mentality" from your organization? Here are two helpful hints:

First and foremost, when it comes to customer service skills, hire for personality and train for any specific skills, like how to complete paperwork, etc. People like Tina and Wendy from my story above, are just "take charge" individuals who don't let little obstacles or department boundaries stand in the way of helping a customer. When interviewing for customer service positions ask past behavioral-based questions like "Tell me about a time when you went out of your way to assist a customer." Or, "Tell me about a time you didn't know the answer to a customer's question." If the person has to think too long to answer these questions appropriately, he or she is probably not the right fit for a service job.