After working in some type of customer service profession for over 25 years and speaking and training thousands of people around the country on the subject for the past four years, I feel confident in saying this….
If you’re not really into helping people, or you know, “serving customers” then you need to “move on with your life’s work!” Now!
There is no shame in saying that having to work with the public is not your thing. There is no problem in admitting to yourself and to others that you don’t like helping people … (although, admittedly, the people around you already know it) and getting out of a customer service related job and moving on.
The problem is when you don’t admit it-and you hand on to a customer service oriented job, when you’re clearly not cut out to do it! Let me give you an example…
One day I decided to stop into a coffee shop to order an iced coffee … mistake number one.
The barista didn’t make any kind of eye contact as she took my order; when she was finished ringing it up she walked away from the register to resume a conversation with co-workers, without thanking acknowledging me and without giving me my receipt.
I then walked over to where I assumed my coffee would be available to pick up. I say assumed because I was not given any instructions on where to pick it up. I was hoping the next person would be slightly more helpful … and THAT would be mistake number two.
As I stood there I saw another barista approach the pick up area and indifferently pushed the coffee forward, without saying my name or announcing the drink, or making sure a customer knew the drink was ready. After shoving the drink forward she immediately turned around and…. (wait for it) resumed her conversation with her co-workers.
At least the coffee would be good, right? Nope! It was awful. Not like Starbucks at all. Mistake number three!
If you are in customer service:
I know it’s difficult! I do. It does take a high degree of patience, understanding, and emotional, relational and professional maturity to deal with many of the things that you deal with daily. But it is worth it to do the right thing. It is!
You see, I’m going to mail this blog to that store’s manager, which means that those associates will have to spend some time explaining what happened that day. Now, if they both just spent an extra 30 seconds being a friendly and engaged human being, they wouldn’t have to spend the extra time explaining things to their supervisor!
If you lead a customer service team:
Remember that your people need the tools necessary (like an amazing trainer…yes, shameless plug) so that they know what good customer service looks, sounds and feels like. They need you to be engaged giving them praise, correction and feedback that goes BEYOND “You need to give good customer service!”
