Customer Service Information |
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Take Care of Yourself Before You Take Care of Your Customer
One of the most important questions people ask when they are focused on improving their quantity and quality of business is: "What is my competitive advantage? What makes me unique, memorable, special? what truly sets me apart from the rest?" While there are no definitively right answers to that question, most people come to some conclusion that customer service is a critical component of your competitive advantage. For most businesses, the service they offer can vary from exceptional to not so hot, depending upon circumstances. Why is that? Why does the same company, and even the same people within that company provide world class service some of the time, and marginal service (or worse) other times? That answer can be found in asking a different question: "What makes you (or your staff) happy when serving your customers?" While these answers also vary, most people come up with some sort of variation of "I am happy when my customer is happy." Do we enjoy dealing with agitated or disgruntled people? Normally not. We derive our joy from delivering value, by making others feel good about their experience, and by exceeding people's expectations. What comes first then? The happy customer or the happy person serving the customer? This is not the chicken or the egg quandary. The happy person serving the customer NEEDS to come first, because it is a very unusual day when your customer comes into your business looking to cheer YOU up. This all seems very obvious. At the same time that many people realize this truth, it is rare that people consciously take steps to make sure that their greatest customer service assets are being serviced too - whether that person in on your staff, in another department, or if that person is YOU. It is critical that you continually improve the emotional, physical and mental support you are supplying to the people serving your customers. One of my friends and colleagues, Paul Wesselemann, shared a story about his time working at an HIV/AIDS support network. He explained how it was absolutely unacceptable to come to work when you were feeling even a bit ill, as even the smallest cold could be extremely dangerous for someone with HIV. He was REQUIRED first and foremost to take care of himself, make sure he was 100% before he was allowed to offer help and support to others. How committed are you to taking the same care of YOUR needs? Your task for the month is to identify and act upon a couple of ways to keep you in proper shape so you can take care of your always important customers.
Eric Plantenberg, President of Freedom Speakers and Trainers, currently trains professionals across the country in memory, goal setting, attitude, time management, and effective communications. His newest program, P.A.C.T., is an intensive one-on-one twelve week personal coaching program designed for those who are serious about their success. Please click here for more information on Eric http://www.deliverfreedom.com/speakers_eric.html or Freedom Speakers and Trainers http://www.deliverfreedom.comCall 888-233-0407 x112 email eric@deliverfreedom.com
MORE RESOURCES: Dallas Restaurants Say Robots and AI Enhance Customer Service Dallas Observer GenAI Can Help Companies Do More with Customer Feedback HBR.org Daily Opinion: If it's not dead already, customer service is certainly on life support • Asheville Watchdog Asheville Watchdog Frequently asked questions and customer service CSPI Newsroom How AI can enhance customer service The Keyword | Google Product and Technology News Customer Service & Support Hillsborough County (.gov) T-Mobile Delivers Industry-Leading Customer, Service Revenue and Profitability Growth in Q1 2024, and Raises 2024 ... Yahoo Finance A Customer Service Adventure: Customer Service: It's Everybody's Business | Calendar City of Glendale, CA (.gov) Poll workers emphasize election confidence, customer service • Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana Capital Chronicle T-Mobile implementing AI-powered tools for better customer service Android Headlines The Marriott Maze: Navigating Customer Service Over $11, When Does It Stop Being Worth It? View from the Wing Top AI Tools to Improve Your Customer Experience Spiceworks News and Insights The article discusses the use of chatbots in the self-storage industry, including how to implement the technology and ... Inside Self-Storage Oracle Leverages AI to Boost Sales Performance and Empower Service Agents Acceleration Economy Rebuilding the IRS Improves Customer Service and Reduces the Tax Gap Center For American Progress Gov't offices giving better customer service? BVI News Online The correct airline customer service numbers to help avoid scams - The Washington Post The Washington Post What Your Business Can Learn From Southwest Airlines Business.com Secrets of Great Customer Service News Channel Nebraska How did customer service get so bad? Financial Times Citizen First Customer Service City of Lynchburg Bank of Ireland announces €34m customer service investment SiliconRepublic.com Welcome to Riverside Public Utilities City of Riverside (.gov) Andreas & Sons values customer service above all else WGN Radio - Chicago Social media customer service statistics to know in 2024 Sprout Social MTA opens spring customer service survey to hear from New Yorkers PIX11 New York News Contact SEA Customer Care portseattle.org AI is replacing customer service jobs across the globe The Washington Post Chick-fil-A is the Fast-Food Customer Service King Food Institute Blog Forbes Recognizes Regions Bank for Best Customer Service Regions Financial Corporation Remitly CEO Matt Oppenheimer says taking customer service calls is what he looks forward to the most Fortune Best Customer Service 2024 Forbes Recent Developments That Could Impact How Companies Offer AI-Based Customer Service Chatbots | Insights Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Customer Service Center - Recreation & Wellbeing University of California, Berkeley Entergy New Orleans welcomes new customer service members Entergy Newsroom Is Consumer Services a Good Career Path? | Careers | U.S. News U.S. News & World Report Buccaneers Continue to Excel in Season Pass Member Customer Service Experience, Voted No. 1 for Sixth ... Buccaneers.com Woman berates customer service after husband buys $1400 golf clubs, threatens to 'throw them in a dumpster' GolfDigest.com Billing and Insurance WellSpan Health 2023 Tax Filing: IRS Improved Customer Service, but Could Further Improve Processing and Evaluate Expedited Hiring Government Accountability Office Mayor Karen Bass Signs Executive Directive to Upgrade City Services | Mayor Karen Bass City of Los Angeles (.gov) |
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