25 Excellent Customer Service Skills We sell a

25 Excellent Customer Service Skills • We sell a service • We buy a product • Both are important in the supply chain

1. Be A Great Listener Being a great listener is one of the most important customer service skills you can improve over time. Asking questions to your customers to help with tending to their needs and having the ability to summarize their issue back to them once they have expressed it will surely show your professionalism. Listening intently and truly showing that you care to make your customer happy will definitely leave you with positive remarks and reviews from those you help. Because customer service includes plenty of phone calls at all times, being a great listener is a key factor in becoming successful in the area of customer service. Listening intently will also help you to gain respect, and you are more likely to receive positive reviews when you show you are genuinely interested in what your customers have to say.

2. Great Communication Skills Having great communication skills is also necessary when you work in customer service. Knowing how to effectively communicate with your clients helps to build your credibility as a customer service representative while also giving you a positive reputation in the workplace. When you are capable of knowing when to listen and when to speak, it will also help to make the communication process much simpler any time you are talking with a customer. Spend time speaking in front of a mirror, attend courses or read books on communicating effectively with others, including customers you have never met. The more experience you have with speaking to others and attempting to sell products or coming up with solutions the easier it becomes to resonate with your client base.

3. Be Calm and Have Patience Understanding how to manage your personal emotions is a key factor in having success when working in any area of customer service. Staying calm and developing patience will benefit you when you are dealing with disgruntled customers or those who are confused about the services and products you offer. Conveying a calming attitude will allow your customers to feel more respected and listened to while talking with you. If you really want to develop this skill incorporating breathing exercises, meditation and other stress-relief practices in to your everyday life would be a way to reduce the amount of stress and anxiety you feel in your workplace and when you are doing your job.

4. Keep Your Promises Keeping your promises that you have made to customers is essential in building your reputation and being taken seriously as a professional in your company. Learning how to manage expectations of customer complaints and what you can offer in exchange when you are helping an individual is essential. Keeping your promises also proves your loyalty to your customers, which can help you to get ahead in the workplace with enough referrals and recommendations. Always keep up with company policies to ensure that any promise you make for a customer can be delivered. When you are unable to deliver a promise you have made to a customer, you may receive a complaint or lose a sale and client altogether.

5. Be Honest Being honest and transparent with your customers proves that you truly care about their happiness and satisfaction when it comes to the products or services you provide. When you are honest and up front with your customers, you are more likely to have the ability to persuade them in to making a purchase or investing in the company you represent. Honesty is also necessary and important even when the message you are sharing is not positive.

6. Friendly And Compassionate Having a friendly and compassionate personality is another key factor in determining success when working in the customer service industry. The more friendly and caring you are to your customers, the easier it is to build a better reputation while also improving your overall sale-making or problem solving capabilities. Ask questions about your customer’s everyday life, their family and why the services or products you represent fit them and their current lifestyle.

7. Is the Customer Happy? Double-checking with your customer after each offer, solution or sale can help to improve your reputation with clients while also ensuring complete satisfaction for all of your customers. Ensuring your customer’s happiness should always be a priority any time you are making a sale or offering a solution that is right for them. Knowing what it is that your client needs will help you to feel more confident with any offered solution you are capable of providing.

8. Become An Expert Any time you take a job in customer service, it is important to consider becoming a complete expert in the position you are holding. Become an expert in your job by learning about specific skills necessary in order to communicate with your customers. Learn everything there is to know about the services and products you are providing before you begin offering alternative solutions and advice to your customers. Spend time reading up on the products and services you represent, attend training sessions or talk to your more experienced colleagues.

9. Know Your Organization The more knowledgeable you are of the organization you represent, the easier it is to get your customers to trust your decisions and the type of products or services you are trying to sell to them. Being capable of answering any questions you are asked about your company will prove that you are a professional and aware of the items or services you are representing. Becoming more aware of your surroundings and the company you represent is a way to quickly earn credibility and respect not only with your customers, but also within your workplace. Learning about others in the workplace and being friendly with them will help you if you are ever stumped in the future with complex problems. The more people you get to know in your organization, the easier it is to work together to ensure all of your customers are satisfied.

10. Time Management Time management is essential when you want to work to improve your customer service skills. Knowing how long each call should take and staying self-aware of the call you are on at all times will help to squeeze in more time with other customers to potentially make sales and gain loyalty. Managing your time properly as a customer service representative can ultimately mean the difference between falling behind in minimum calls required and excelling in the position you are holding.

11. Negotiate and Persuade Developing your negotiation skills and your ability to persuade others can help you with getting ahead in any customer service position you represent. Knowing when you have an opening to make a sale or developing the ability to communicate effectively with your customers is a way for you to earn more money while gaining the trust and loyalty of your clients simultaneously. Improve your selling skills by taking a class, reading books and even practicing your methods of persuasion with family and friends.

12. Be Confident Showing you are confident over the phone is possible by proving to your customer that you believe in the products and services you represent. The more confident you appear to your customers, the easier it is to sound convincing with any deal you are trying to offer to them. Confidence can be picked up by how you sound when you are on the phone, so improving your public speaking and conversational skills is essential when you want to boost your performance when working as a customer service representative.

13. Have Tenacity When you are goal-oriented and tenacious, this can prove to be an ideal asset any time you are working as a customer service representative. The more tenacious you are in the workplace, the more likely you are to make the most sales and grab the attention of the most customers and clients. Being goal-oriented, focused and determined shows your professionalism and dedication to representing the company you are working in.

14. Close The Deal Closing the deal any time you are trying to make a customer happy is just as important as the introduction you present and how you communicate with your customers. Once you present various options for solutions to your customers, understanding how to close the deal and finalize the call is an essential part of the process. It’s important to know when to transition into the closing of the deal based on each customer individually. Always asking your customer if they are satisfied with the offered solutions is a way to confirm you are on the right track.

15. Handle Surprises Well Being adaptable within a customer service environment is essential in order to fully prepare for any surprises you may endure while you are on the job. Working with customers and clients throughout each day can often lead to surprises such as angry customers or those who are entirely confused about the products and services you are representing. Knowing how to handle a variety of situations and in some cases even confrontations, will improve your professionalism and ability to ensure all of your customers can find the solution they are seeking, even if they are unhappy when they first call to speak with you.

16. Work Under Pressure Working under pressure is another factor to consider when you are working in the customer service industry. Many companies require you to take or make a specific number of files each day, which is why time management is also so important. Working under pressure may require you to meet certain deadlines, speak with upset customers and find solutions on a whim when you are dealing with issues that are uncommon or rare for your company. Knowing how to solve problems, thinking ahead and maintaining your composure at all times will help you to reach your clients more effectively while allowing them to feel satisfied and content with the services you provide.

17. Analyze Analyzing problems as soon as you begin to speak with a customer is a way to show your professionalism while also boosting your own ability to solve problems and discover new solutions. Having the ability to analyze any issue or trouble your customers may be experiencing is a great way to also learn how to effectively communicate during troubled times while still finding a solution that works for both your company and the customer you are handling. Take time to listen to your customer intently, jot down any trouble areas and reflect quickly to find solutions that are right for each case on an individual basis.

18. Value Human Psychology The more familiar you become with human psychology when working in customer service, the easier it is to convey messages, make sales and directly connect genuinely with your customers and clients. Knowing how to pick up on tones, sounds and the way your clients are speaking to you can help you to determine how to steer the conversation you are having, whether they are a first-time customer or have been loyal to your company for years. When you are able to detect body language, you can also determine the best practices for making sales or generating interest in the products and services you represent. By learning more about human psychology, body language and understanding sounds when speaking, you can feel more relaxed and confident with the methods of communication you choose any time you are on the phone with a customer.

19. What If It Were You With This Problem? Perspective is another quality you may want to improve. Putting yourself in the position of the customer when you talk to them will help you to gain the necessary perspective in order to find a solution that is fitting and satisfying for both your client and the company you represent. Thinking “what if it were me? ” when you are talking with a customer could help you to find solutions at a much quicker rate, especially if you are unfamiliar with how to traditionally solve the issue with your company’s guide.

20. Use Positive Language Any time you pick up the phone to speak with a customer, consider the language you are using and how effective it is when conveying the message you want to share. Using positive language that is motivating and in ways, persuading, is the best way to reach your customers while encouraging them to make a purchase, accept a solution or get involved with your company’s services that are being presented. Being cheery and asking how your customer’s day is going and incorporating simple manners such as “Please”, “Thank you”, and “Mr. ” or “Mrs. ” shows respect to your customers while also generating a positive tone.

21. Have Computer Skills When you have computer skills as a customer service representative, it is much easier to quickly communicate with clients, customers and other individuals who are also working in the same workplace as you. Learning how to type quickly can also save time when you are searching for solutions for the customers you have. Entering in customer names and information quickly can help to save time on all of your phone calls, allowing you to take more time for other customers to make potential sales.

22. Take The Extra Step Taking the extra step with your customers any time you work in customer service will help you to improve your reputation while gaining loyal customers who only want to work with you in the future. The more actively involved you are with the problems or issues they may be experiencing, the more likely they are to engage with you in real conversation, even if you are attempting to make a sale or you want to provide them with a service.

23. Learn From Mistakes An important lesson to learn any time you are working as a customer service representative is to learn from your own mistakes any time you make them. Learning from one’s mistakes helps to become smarter, stronger and more focused on completing tasks and objectives the right way in the future. Taking time to reflect on any mistakes you have made in customer service is a way for you to gain insight in to how to properly manage customers and effectively communicate at all times. Write down a list of mistakes or issues you have when it comes to talking with customers, whether it is your introduction, pitch or when trying to close a deal. The more you understand about the areas you are struggling with, the easier it is to make the changes necessary in order to improve your skills.

24. Be a Leader Being a leader is a way to get ahead when you work in the field of customer service. Showing that you are capable of providing new solutions for customers based on your privileges as a representative and your knowledge of the organization you work for proves your leadership and increases your professionalism. Leading others in the workplace can also help you to improve your customer service skills, regardless of whether you are just getting started or if you have been working in the industry for decades.

25. Good Body Language Even when you spend most of your time working on the phone with customers, having good body language is important and can be picked up on even when you are not in person with your client. Smiling frequently and expressing happiness and laughter over the phone can help to improve the customer’s experience, as it is easy to pick up when a person is smiling, even when not face to face.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Knowing how to incorporate the most important customer service skills each day while you work can help you to get ahead in the workplace while also allowing you to better resonate with your clients and customers.