The Sykes Group's OnPoint

“When people are serving, life is no longer meaningless.” – John Gardener

Check Yourself for Outstanding Customer Service

Recently, a business associate, Mike, mentioned that he was doing a show at a local university and stopped by the faculty dining hall to get lunch. He said that, while waiting on line, the service was poor. The line moved slowly, the counterperson was disinterested in what she was doing…and it showed. It was not a pleasant customer service experience.

It was Mike’s turn to order and the counterperson continued to show her disinterest…no eye contact, moving like it pained her, and no enthusiasm in her voice. Then when she finally looked up to give Mike his food, she noticed his nametag with his name and company. She realized that Mike worked for a bank where she just opened an account. Well, she turned into another person. She was excited when telling Mike about her excellent experience at his bank. In an instant she was vibrant, alert, smiling, and alive!

The question is, “Why couldn’t she behave that way whenever she interacts with a customer?” We can ask this question whenever we interact with people in customer service situations. In many situations, the persons serving us act like they are auditioning for the role of a zombie in the movie, “Dawn of the Dead.” Whereas they can use less energy being lively and produce a great experience for everyone involved.

The reason this happens is because the customer service persons do not “check themselves” for outstanding customer service. When you “check yourself” before serving the customer, you prep yourself to give your best for the customer. When you “check yourself,” you are prepared for any customer service situation. When you “check yourself,” you make the situation positive for the customer and yourself.

The following are three ways to “check yourself” to give outstanding customer service:

1. Check your Customer Service Attitude - Make your attitude say, “I can help you today.” This means that you want to help, you want to take responsibility for the solution, and you are proactive in creating solutions for the customer. Make sure your attitude is positive for outstanding results. Keep a mirror by your desk and look into the mirror before you start a customer transaction and say the following:

• “I will help someone today.”
• “I have a great attitude.”
• “I am solution-oriented.”
• “I will make a difference today.”

2. Check your Customer Service Body Language – Make your body language show that you are eager to listen to the customer. This means standing or sitting erectly if communicating face-to-face. Sitting erect in your seat is especially important when communicating over the telephone because the customer can “hear” your apathy over the phone. Check yourself to make sure you are smiling. Check yourself to make sure your body language is showing that you want to listen. This means direct eye contact, arms uncrossed, a slight nod of acknowledgment, and, most importantly, your body facing the customer to show that you are completely “engaged” in the conversation.

3. Check your Customer Service Voice – Make sure your voice is energized and positive. This means that you do not sound monotone and your voice has vocal variety (see my article “Cat in the Hat”). Check your voice to make sure your have a lively pace without cutting off the customers before they finish their thoughts.

By just applying these customer service three techniques, you will produce happy customers, increase customer satisfaction, master customer retention, and make your job as a customer service expert so much easier.

I put together the solution and took the #4 subway line to Wall Street to meet at her office. As I waited in the lobby of her building for an elevator, five women gathered around me to also wait for the elevator. The elevator arrived and we all walked into the elevator. I took the initiative and greeted the group of women and commented on the weather. This opened up the conversation between all of us and soon, with additional exchanges, we were laughing about our day.

Let me share with you the following can do customer service story on how you can outperform your competition and win customers every day.

On our road trips to New Jersey to facilitate a motivation program for a client, Joy and I make it a habit to order food from a particular fast food restaurant. Although the food is not nutritious, it tastes good and is so famous that there was a movie made about the adventures of two people searching for this restaurant (Hint: Harold and Kumar are the two main characters).

During a recent road trip, as we approached the restaurant, we noticed that the lights were out in several of the businesses leading up to it. Nearing the front door of the restaurant, we noticed a sign that read “Restaurant Closed Due to Power Outage. Sorry for the Inconvenience.” Well, we were not to be denied. We hopped back into the car and drove up to the drive through window and tapped on it. We asked what happened, and the restaurant employee apologized for the inconvenience and explained that a storm had come through the area and knocked out power in their business and they were in the process of bringing power back up.

We explained that we drove many miles and make it a habit to frequent their restaurant when in the area and asked if they could do anything for us. With a smile, she turned to her co-workers to get agreement on what they could do as a team and then explained, without hesitation, shared the following: 

• “We have one burner up and running so we can make any type of hamburger for you. What would you like?
• “Our shake machine is still frosty so we can give you free milk shakes, on the house, for your inconvenience”
• “Our fryer is up so we can make fries or onion rings for you, which would you like?

We were delighted with the service as the employees quickly and cheerfully put together our order. She could have taken a “can’t do” attitude and not answered our knocks on the window or told us they were closed. She could have used the storm damage as an excuse not to serve us. But instead, she displayed a “can do” attitude for creating and winning customers no matter what the situation.

 Whether you work in a restaurant or office environment, serve internal or external customers, or work in an environment that expects results, the following are five essential secrets to developing a “can do” customer service attitude and creating repeat customers:

To read the rest of the article and other customer service resources…