When was the last time you got really great customer service? When I ask this question at one of our seminars, people recall all kinds of great customer service stories. They’ll say things like, the woman at the front desk really helped me out, the guy at the store made me feel important, everyone that works there is always so friendly, they always remember my name at that restaurant. The thing that all these comments have in common is that they all speak to people on a human level.
That’s what truly exceptional customer service is about; taking the time to connect with people first and foremost while seamlessly doing business, and doing so consistently, never forgetting that you’re only as good as your last customer interaction.
Consistency isn’t the sexiest or most exciting word in customer service, but put into practice, it can produce very real results in your production and customer satisfaction levels. Working with customers, we often have to adapt to at a moment’s notice. So a world where every day flows in perfect harmony with the universe just isn’t realistic. Variations and setbacks serve as valuable life lessons and help to keep some spice in your day. Some days will be great, others – not so much. Most days will be somewhere in-between, but still routines can be created that will help improve the flow of your day.
It takes time to establish new ways of doing things, but these tips can help you through the retraining period.
Do the same thing every morning – This is more powerful than you think. Just set up a routine that you follow every morning, because beginning your day with the same routine sets the tone for the day. As humans we find comfort in doing things that we have done before. You can even follow a ritual you’ve created to ‘reset’ and turn a bad day around.
Do things even if you don’t feel like it – There’s something you need to get done…but you’d rather put it off. Don’t. You’ll feel better once you complete the task and it’s crossed off your list and out of your mind. Did you ever think ‘I don’t feel like putting gas in my car tonight, I’ll do it in the morning’ and regretted it? Point made.
Use reminders where you can see them – Post-it notes are brilliant! Write yourself little notes of what you would like to make a habit of and stick it to your computer screen, the dashboard of your car, wherever it is that you will see it.
Focus on the process and not the end results – Working with your end goals in mind is daunting. It’s a lot like losing weight. Thinking about the 30 or 40 pounds you need to lose can feel hopeless. But if you focus only on the healthy meal you are about to enjoy right now, you’ll feel much more relaxed about the whole affair. The key is when you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, just take the next logical step.