Cardinal Rule #1 – Personal Responsibility/Accountability: Don’;t Pass the Buck
One of the most important attributes a company staff member can have is personal responsibility – personal accountability. Those that have it refuse to accuse, blame and complain. Those that do accuse, blame and complain break one of the most important cardinal rules. "Who" statements accuse and blame. "Who took my stapler?" We should use a more positive manner and take personal responsibility by saying, "I seem to have misplaced my stapler; has anyone seen it?" Remember to take full responsibility with the customer. The customer doesn’;t like to hear accusing, blaming and complaining statements. They know when you’;re passing the buck!
Cardinal Rule #2 – People Before Paperwork
When someone walks into your place of business or calls you while you’;re working on something, Cardinal Rule #2 says drop everything. Attend to that person. Remember, paper and other tasks can wait, people should not. We’;ve all been abused when we go shopping and been ignored because the staffer is doing something else and we know how that feels. Let’;s not abuse our own customers. Remember: People before paperwork.
Cardinal Rule #3 – Don’;t RUSH Your Customers
Sure, you may understand something real quick, but rushing the customer along will only lead to them feeling intimidated. Remember to mirror their speed. Trying to be "done" with a customer as quickly as possible is seen as being rude and uncaring. Rushing threatens customers. Take your time with each and every contact.
Cardinal Rule #4 – Company Jargon
Ever get a report from a company and not understand it? Some companies have company jargon that makes the CIA wonder what’;s up. Be very careful not to use your own company jargon on your customers. You and your employees may understand it very well, but the customer may not. And you’;ll only cause a lot of unnecessary confusion. Spell things out for your customers. Use easy words. Try not to abbreviate. Remember, don’;t use military language on civilians.
Cardinal Rule #5 – Don’;t Be Too Busy To Be Nice
Hey, everyone’;s busy! That’;s what it’;s all about. Being busy does not give you carte blanche to be rude. Remember, you meet the same people going down as you do going up. They’;ll remember you. (What’;s worse than being busy? NOT being busy.)
Cardinal Rule # 6 – Be Friendly BEFORE You Know Who It Is
There’;s a good lesson to be learned here. One Telephone Doctor saying is: Smile BEFORE you know who it is. Often times it’;s too late. Being friendly before you know who it is will earn you classic customer service points. The customer needs to know you want to work with them, no matter who they are. Remember, sometimes it’;s way too late to smile and be friendly after you know who it is.
Any one of these tips can boost your customer service!