The night before a workshop I delivered last week in Charleston, SC I called the Mellow Mushroom for delivery. I removed cheese and meat from my appetizer, salad and entree. (It sounds like I ate a lot! I did.) The man on the phone asked, “Are you vegan?” To that I said, “Yes, I am.” “Me too,” he said. He then went on to explain that my Quinoa burger included a little egg as a binding and he wanted to know if that was okay. I was fine with that. From there we chatted about us both being “flexible vegans.”
The simple inquiry, “Are you vegan?” led to rapport-building conversation and such a friendly and unique experience for me. The man was friendly. He was genuine. He made me feel completely comfortable with my many customizations. And he gave me an engaging and genuine interaction.
Are your people adding value to your company through their interactions with customers?
Your employees can add value to the customer experience by doing 3 things: Making personal connection, Acknowledging concern, and Empathy
1. Making Personal Connection
This is what the man at Mellow Mushroom did, and it’s so easy to do. In my workshops I tell people to look for something they can comment on, something perhaps that they have in common with the customer. For example, a customer service agent could say, “I ordered that exact same duffle for my daughter. She’s in cheer as well and she loves that she can throw all of her outfits and makeup in it and easily carry the bag over her shoulder.” This sharing helps create rapport because it’s genuine – and it just might lead to a sell or up-sell.
2. Acknowledge Concern
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