This is the 7-point call strategy I use when my work is to improve the telephone customer experience in a call center. The lead-in, step 1, gets calls started on a positive note. Steps 2-6 […]
Having Trouble Controlling Conversations with Customers? This Will Help.
Studies show the average business call lasts 2 minutes longer than it needs to. Customer service employees struggle with call control for a variety of reasons, including they don’t want to be rude to the customer, they aren’t sure how to move to closure or because the customer is rambling or angry.
Using the principles of harmony, assertiveness and leading from the martial art Aikido, Myra walks your employees through the steps to politely and confidently control conversations.
The outcome of this training is employees who possess the soft skills to make customers feel heard and understood, politely lead conversations and assertively bring calls to closure.
Here’s a 60-second introduction to the training. If you like what you see, use the link at the bottom of this page to go directly to the full course.
Here’s How to Respond to the Yelling or Cursing Customer {with videos}
Here’s How to Respond to the Yelling or Cursing Customer – Plus More Diplomatic Phrases to Help You Regain Control in 9 Common Situations with Difficult Customers 1. What to say to the yelling or cursing […]
Positive Positioning Can Help You De-escalate Intense Interactions with Customers. Here’s how.
Positive positioning is delivering a message in a positive way, and in such a way that minimizes a negative reaction. Positive Positioning is easy to do when you focus on three things.
5 Comebacks for the Customer Who Tries to Intimidate You
Some people use bait tactics to try to get what they want. They’ll say something just to get you to react. They’re trying to take your power so that they’re in control. A lot of […]
Fully Utilize Start, Stop, Continue to Improve Your Customer Experience
One of the tools I use to improve the customer experience with my clients immediately is Start, Stop, Continue. I gather a team together and ask them what we need to Start, Stop, and Continue […]
How Most People Get It Wrong When Giving Customers Bad News
My husband and I were sitting at the big boardroom table at the closing office. We’d just sold our first home, and we were now closing on our new home. We thought we were in […]
Managers Are Usually to Blame for Escalations
Customers are shrewd and impatient. They’re not going to mess around with a customer service employee who feigns (or lacks) authority to resolve issues. Customers will put their “get me a manager” card on the table in a hair’s breadth. And managers get frustrated with this, but it’s your fault, managers. You teach customers to escalate by holding all the power in your headsets.
If You Work with Customers, You Need to Be Friendly (Or at least act friendly)
I rarely trek grocery store aisles these days. I order online and either have my food delivered, or I get my bags brought right out to my car. At the grocery store yesterday, I rolled […]
How to Master Rapport with the Best Tips From My LinkedIn Learning Course
Date of birth? Last name? Zip code? Have you ever had a conversation with a customer service person, and it went something like that? A lot of people ask questions this way. The problem with […]
4 Things Your Support Team Should Do In Chat
I’ve designed start-up chat support for banks, libraries, consulting companies, medical practices, and contact centers. When I set up a chat platform for my clients, I have two goals. First, I want to deliver a fast and complete support experience. Meaning, I want to answer the customer’s questions and solve any issues. And second, I want zero customer frustration. That means, customers shouldn’t have to escalate to get help, they shouldn’t have to move to a call or email, and delays should be minimal.
Here are four things I insist upon when I implement a chat support channel with my customers.
1. Screen Recordings and Screenshots
When an eLearning customer reaches out to my team for help over chat, we’ll go into the client’s customized portal to see what they see. Then, we’ll do quick screenshots or screen recordings to walk them through the steps to solve their issues.
Yesterday when an eLearning customer asked how to add certification from my Telephone Skills class to her LinkedIn profile, I did a quick screen record (shown below) and sent it to her.
customers love quick screen recordings. We don’t always add audio to these recordings. It’s usually enough just to send customers a link to watch the video instantly.
2. Check for Understanding
I tell my team never to assume they understand what the customer is saying and to instead, merely ask the customer what they mean. In our chats, check-ins read like this.
This is the Business Equivalent to the “Good morning” Text
I picked up my iPhone and saw a text from a five-digit number. My heart gazelled – I just knew it was the airline telling me my flight was delayed, or worse, canceled. But it […]
