How to Have Great Customer Service Skills & Get Repeat Customers

Keep your customers coming back with great customer service job skills.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. The number one most important thing to any business is it's customers. Without them a business cannot survive. Anyone owning a business or in management should know great customer service skills and teach them to all employees with customer service jobs, which is anyone who comes in contact with a customer in any way. Treat your customers well, build relationships with them and your customers will keep coming back to you.

2. These are some simple, yet often not practiced customer service skills.

3. Have eye contact - This is so important and on the top of the complaint list for bad customer service by consumers. Your full attention should be on that customer the entire time you are with them. Make them feel important and give them the respect they deserve.

4. Smile - leave your troubles at home. Make your customer feel welcome and that your job is to help them with their needs. This also goes for when you answer the phone - smile when you answer the phone and it will be reflected in your voice.

5. Do not answer the phone when you are with a customer - If you absolutely have to answer the phone, ask the caller to hold until you are done with the customer your with. Apologize for answering the phone and return your full attention back to them. When you are finished with the customer, answer the phone and apologize to the caller then giving this customer your full attention.

6. Do not have a conversation with another employee, or anyone else, while helping a customer. If this cannot be avoided, include the customer in the conversation.

7. Do not have an opinion. For example, if a customer starts bashing your political party do not turn this into a debate. Remain unpartisan in your discussion and try to divert the conversation back to the business at hand.

8. Do not take things personally. - If you are treated rudely by a customer try not to take it to heart. People have bad days and problems that may be vented out onto you. This is a tough part of customer service jobs, but you have to learn to let it go. 99% of the time it's not about you, you're just a convenient outlet for the person's frustration.

9. It helps to get a feel for what type of person your customer is.

10. Are they in a hurry? - This customer does not want to chit-chat. They want to get what they need and get out, so make every effort to help them accomplish this.

11. Do they want to be helped? - If they seem lost or needing assistance, let them know you are there to help them. Answer questions, guide them to where they need to go. If you can't help them, get someone that can.

12. Are they seeking friendship? - For some people your place of business may act as a social outlet for them. This can be an awkward situation, but be friendly and understanding. Know your boundaries and use your judgement.

13. Is this customer unhappy with your business? - Above all, APOLOGIZE. Most people just want an apology. Try and fix whatever issue they have, even if you are not at fault. Learn to say I'm sorry and say it like you really mean it. This is key to great customer service skills.

14. Customer service should be your businesses number one priority. Just remember to put yourself in your customer's shoes. How would you want to be treated? Try and go above and beyond that.
    For business owners or management, use these customer service skills as guidelines for how to treat your employees. Your employees will have more respect for you because they feel you respect them. In turn they will enjoy their jobs more and this will be noticeable to your customers.

[veryirie]

on 10/28/2008 Well done article; too many people need to read this, I'm afraid. Thanks for these necessary tips!