It doesn’t take much effort to take customer service from average to good. It’s a lot harder to elevate good service to great. So why would you bother to do that? You know providing top-notch customer service benefits the company, but it’s good for you too! Who doesn’t want to get noticed in a positive way? Great customer skills will get you that kind of attention. Your customers are going to feel special and so will you. Growing these abilities can transform your whole workplace into somewhere much more pleasant to be (not a bad side-effect!) You’ll be thought of as the ‘heart’ of your department. And don’t think for a minute that will go unnoticed by management. Work on these skills to elevate your performance.
Paying attention – Hearing is not the same as listening. Actively listen and ask smart questions to figure out what your customer REALLY wants and do that. Here’s an example of what can happen when you don’t. I went in for a haircut and told the stylist I was sick to death of my hairstyle and wanted something completely different – short, choppy and edgy. What I got was the exact same somewhat conservative hairstyle I walked in with only a little shorter. Her l not paying attention to what I really wanted made me not go back to see her again.
Responsibility – Feel personally responsible for your customers. I don’t know, that’s not my department and I just started here are all poor excuses and frankly just plain lazy. If you don’t know find out or personally get someone who does and hand deliver the customer to them.
Enthusiasm – Sure there are aspects of everyone’s job they are not so crazy about, but don’t dwell on those. Instead revel in the parts you love about your job. That kind of passion for life is infectious and when your co-workers catch it the whole day is going to be a lot more fun!
Brain power – You have that grey matter between your ears for a reason, use it to creatively solve customer concerns or better yet, prevent those issues in the first place. A little customer education can go a long way toward building trust. If you can use your problem solving skills proactively to save the customer money that’s even better; give them creative ways to use your products and services that they may not have thought of on their own.
Kindness – Being kind goes a long way in business and in life. Everyone wants to be around as someone they think of as nice. It’ll keep customers coming back time and time again. Kind people don’t humiliate others or make them feel stupid. They don’t pre-judge customers and have an attitude of service. They know how to use this skill to build relationships. They are self-effacing and unpretentious (Don’t worry we know how great you are!).