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The Upside of Down…

June 5, 2008

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You can always laugh

So when that car cuts you off and it’s barely a miss
Don’t give them the finger, just blow them a kiss
Instead of being angry you can chuckle at their reaction
Hopefully the “road rage” will now be a retraction

On the bus where the only seat left is somebody’s lap
Because some loser filled a spot with all of their crap
Instead of being angry and staring them down
Offer to help move their stuff to the ground

When you’re parking to shop at your favorite mall
And you see a deadbeat take a handicap stall
Just give them a wave as you calmly walk past
Call security; let them ticket their ass

While you’re there spending your hard earned money
And the cashier is miserable try calling them “Honey”
Of course that only works when you’re opposite sexes
But it’s better than shooting them like they do down in Texas

When you’re out at the golf course enjoying your day
And the people behind you think you’re in the way
Just let them go past, do your best to ignore
When they’re ahead, count slowly to three, and then yell “fore!”

When you’re sitting at home and you just want to relax
But the kids are going crazy; you can’t get them off your back
Don’t get upset and tell them to “get out of your hair”
They grow up too fast, soon they won’t be there

When you’re all dressed up to take your wife on a date
As usual she’s slow and you don’t want to be late
Give her a break; go get some fresh air on the deck
Remember, men only have to shave their face and neck

When your neighbor lets their dog poop on your lawn
You can’t keep watching out for them dusk to dawn
You might have to pick it up, and yes, that's a drag
But they’ll think twice when it's on their step in a bag

Jody Urquhart is a professional speaker who for the last ten years has motivated and inspired professionals to use humor to change there lives. Please contact us to see how we can recognize and inspire professionals at your next event.

"http://www.idoinspire.com/"

 


3 Customer Service Ideas to Earn Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty

June 2, 2008

Sherri Wynters

Customer service has never been worse than it is in today's business environment. With companies trimming their budgets as much as possible, there isn't the time or money to spend on customer service skills. If it can be automated, it gets automated no matter how inconvenient it is for the customer.

How many times have you been ready for the now familiar message "please listen carefully for our options have changed" only to find yourself screaming at the phone after one too many option levels? Hey - it works for the business - it keeps their operating overhead down - they don't have to staff as many people as they used to because the call tree does the job on auto-pilot. No late or sick employee to worry about. No customers complaining about your phone receptionist cutting them off or having a bad attitude.

When you stop to think about all the conveniences we have lost over the years, it's pretty astounding. Doesn't it seem like we're doing more with all the automation that was supposed to make our lives easier? No more secretaries; we have a computer. No more gas jockey; we can do it ourselves and we even get to watch TV while we're pumping. Nobody to answer your call or tell you when they will; you can leave a message.

I don't know about you but all this convenience can be very frustrating for me. I can't ever sit back and let somebody else do the task because I'm expected to use self-serve. I remember the days when service people were expected to be extremely helpful. We have begun to expect poor service and we are no longer surprised when it occurs.

This is the perfect time for small businesses to step up and offer that which cannot be offered by the big companies. Convenience is such a big selling point, how about offering customer service as a convenience for your customers? Many small businesses are run by owners that are too busy running the business to implement good customer service on the Internet. In fact, customer issues may be rare and infrequently occurring, but as the business grows good customer service becomes a necessity. The business owner will eventually find it difficult and overwhelming in the long run.

The post sales process is just as important as the initial sales process when it comes to customer loyalty. A poorly treated customer will not have a reason to do business with you again even when you roll out new products and services. Here's three ideas for you to implement that will not take excessive time or money but will increase customer satisfaction and customer loyalty:

  Follow-Up Personally with an Irate Customer

Running a business is like having a new adventure every day. You can never be surprised when the unexpected happens, only be ready to deal with it. When things go terribly wrong for your customer, have someone follow-up with a phone call. You may be surprised to learn that Internet shoppers think of online businesses with a bit of celebrity stars in their eyes. It is totally unexpected that an online business would call them to apologize for any inconvenience and make sure the issue was resolved to their satisfaction. I've done it - it works like a charm every time.

Use Words and Phrases Guaranteed to Calm Any Customer

Customers enjoy the speed of the purchase and the anticipation of the immediate download shopping on the Internet for digital products. Things can go bump in the night at any point in the purchase process, even getting to the download page. Make it easy for your customer to report the issue by having at least one method guaranteed to get results within four hours. And then be sure you always include "we apologize for the inconvenience", "please reopen this ticket if further assistance is needed", "thank you for notifying us of this problem", "please", "thank you", "we're so sorry for the delay", etc. This type of acknowledgment lets the customer know that you care. Isn't that really what we want?

Give the Customer Value for Their Inconvenience

New people are coming to the Internet every day so you should expect and plan for the "this is my first time" issues. One way you can do that is to provide your customer with more information than is required to resolve the issue. For example, solving the issue and telling your customer how to prevent a similar issue in the future will assist them in using the Internet and they will greatly appreciate the extra time and effort your business took to assist them.

Combine all three of the above ideas and you will provide customer service few have seen on the Internet, let alone in many offline businesses today.

Digital Info Diva™ supports Internet Marketers. Sign up for The Diva's customer service tips for Internet businesses and learn how to profit from your customer issues.


Stress: It's The Little Things That Get You

June 1, 2008

By Lawrence Losoncy

Leadership in business management is not of epic proportions most of the time. Movies would have us think of business leaders doing heroic and super-human feats of courage. In fact, the very best of business leaders grow right out of the ranks of management, tending to the everyday humdrum gnitty-gritties that make up the bulk of most business days.

Good leaders are almost always aware of the stresses being experienced by the people they lead and whose work they manage. What are those stresses these days? How can the business leader be helpful without compromising productivity and profit? Here are a few items to consider. There are many more.

The stress of schedule. Consider: workers today have children to be picked up or taken to school and everywhere else. Workers also have spouses, parents, relatives and friends who sometimes need looking after, who sometimes throw parties and do celebrations, who often enough engage in shared projects such as building, painting or remodeling and who sometimes provide after-hours part time employment for your workers.

You can help reduce the stress of schedule by encouraging a flexible approach. When workers need to be late, miss half a day because of a school event, or leave early they should know in advance that they have your blessing.

The stress of money woes. Very few workers have too much money! Most can barely make ends meet. With gasoline prices inching towards $4 per gallon half of our country is approaching nervous breakdowns. Anger is rising. People feel helpless and angry as they get ripped off. Yes, it is only a few dollars. But yes, it is the little things that make for stress. The little things hit so close to home.

You can help by encouraging your workers to talk it over. Who could share rides? Who could pick up a needed item for a co worker on the way to or from school or the store? How could the miles travelled collectively be pared down by teaming up and thinking strategically?

The stress of credit. Without credit ANY minor emergency becomes major. It might be a medication, a dental emergency, a minor traffic accident, a broken window, a tax bill. It might be any unexpected expense, any necessary purchase, any financial surprise. Credit at this point in time is tightening. Money is not so easy to come by. Credit cards are expensive. Even a small financial worry constitutes a large stress because it never goes away. Some of your employees might also have large financial worries such as foreclosure, divorce or bankruptcy staring at them.

You can help. Help your employees get credit. Encourage and provide for financial management discussions that focus on where employees are, be that a need for understanding, a need for skills, a need for encouragement or a need to say out loud what is stressful, just to get the feedback and relief of knowing they are not the only ones. More significantly, never miss a chance to develop savings, bonus incentives, profit sharing, 401-K plans and any other type of financial advancement that would benefit your workers.

Medicine, gasoline, utility bills, house payments and mortgages, health care, insurance, credit, food and the future: it is a fairly safe bet that many if not all of the people in your company are VERY stressed about these things. There may be some who have lost loved ones in the ongoing military actions, others whose loved one is serving overseas.

Nobody expects you to solve their problems. But you can make it easier or more difficult for those you lead. Make it easier by thinking up ways to support and encourage your people as they search for solutions. No acting or pretending: be genuine, use some imagination and encourage others to do the same. And keep your word. There is more to business than production and maximum profit. Remember, you are a leader, not a slave driver.

Losoncy is a licensed therapist, an executive coach and president of three corporations. To learn more about his availability for trainings and for a schedule of his open seminars go to http://www.mvpseminars.com



Live for Today, Play for Today

May 28, 2008

The Power of Play to Exploit the Present

Constant worry about what’s around the corner is a waste of energy and can cause stress and anxiety. Your quality of life will improve a great deal when you take time to live in the present moment. You do that best when you play.

Recently I walked into a meeting of CEO’s to talk about the value of play and fun at work. They looked tentative and skeptical. Finally a man says, “You must be joking, we are professionals we take ourselves and our work seriously” (I hear this a lot). The following question usually helps people see why play and fun are important…

Imagine you got up right now and played a game for the next 30 minutes with your colleagues. You laughed joked, poked fun at each other and were really engaged in the activity- what would be the result?

Decreased Tension

Expressed Emotion

Increased “feel good” endorphins

Increased Oxygen (increasing energy and focus)

Increased rapport and comrade

Have better social skills to relate to others

Elevated trust

Increased creativity…. Just to name a few benefits.

The sum result of all of this is when you go back to work you would have more energy, better teamwork and be more productive. No I’m not kidding.

This is not a program but a philosophy. Fun is spontaneous- it doesn’t necessarily happen on schedule; it grows in a culture that fosters its existence. You can’t plan to have fun you just have it.

The definition of play is, ‘a physical or mental leisure activity that is undertaken purely for enjoyment or amusement and has no other objective’. (Play Therapy International)

The use of play engages people in the moment. Time flies when you’re having fun because fun is in the present moment. It is positive, healthy, and vibrant and it is right here right now. When you play you usually laugh -Laughing heightens the experience of being in the present moment because it involves the emotions, the body, and the intellect, all at the same time.

The Power of Now.

When you are in the moment you have an infinite source of energy, it’s a state of flow where things are easy. You are in the present, and it’s the most dynamic, fluid awareness.

Play is a fun, enjoyable activity that elevates our spirits and brightens our outlook on life. Play relieves feelings of stress and boredom, connects us to people in a positive way, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, regulates our emotions, and boosts our ego (Landreth, 2002). In addition, play allows us to practice skills and roles needed for survival. Learning and development are best fostered through play (Russ, 2004)

More Fun = More Energy

Think of fun as something like electricity that can be accessed in different wattages. When you play more you learn to use higher energy levels for a sustained time. You can learn to plug into more power and use it without burning yourself out. Some people can use only very small amounts of power and some have developed and earned the ability to use very large amounts of it.

Manage your Time and your Energy

Managing time often involves setting goals to be reached within a set timeframe. Goals that won’t be accomplished immediately but hours, a month or a year down the road. To be most productive we have to also manage our energy. It’s our energy that we give to the present moment where we actually get the work done. There are numerous ways to increase energy like exercise, nutrition, sleep, etc and they all involve leaving the activity (the work that achieves the goal), get energized and come back to the work.

Fun also increases energy and it’s in the moment, so it doesn’t require time away from your present activity. If you can have fun while working, by experiencing the work you are doing as playful, light hearted and fun than you increase energy, accomplish goals, and stay in the moment. In essence with fun we can manage our energy and our time.

Play Therapy

So often in modern life we never seem to have enough time to spend with our children - just playing, just being there for them.

Play is now widely recognized as being beneficial in the emotional development of children. It has a therapeutic value. Play therapists are licensed professionals who use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. (Association for Play Therapy)

Techniques used by play therapists range from Therapeutic Story Telling, Drama and Role Playing, Puppets and Masks.

Some studies indicate that 70% of children who have psychological problems are helped through the use of psychological based therapies such as play and creative arts.

Nuero science research confirms the importance of play for infants in developing children’s brains and minds. It has also been shown that exposure to metaphor and symbols, as used in play, has a beneficial effect upon the development of the brain.

If your whole life is wrapped up in reaching future goals you may be missing the greatest fun of all…. It’s the present. Live for Today Play for Today.

Jody Urquhart is a professional speaker who compels stressed-out and fed-up professionals to rediscover their passion, purpose & sense of play. To discuss having Jody speak at your next meeting please call us at 1(877) 750-1900 or email jody@idoinspire.com


Get More Business Results By Having A Little Fun!

May 24, 2008

Do you think it's appropriate or professional to have fun in the workplace?

Research has shown that fun at work generally results in an increase of productivity, creativity, loyalty, and morale. Appropriate workplace fun is a key method for energizing workers and putting some life back into their routines.

Here are some additional benefits of having fun at work:

Fun fulfills the basic human need to be social

Fun can instill a sense of teamwork

Fun usually improves communication

Fun breaks up boredom that comes from doing repetitive work

Fun can dissolve conflict and tension

Fun can foster a positive company culture

Fun creates an opportunity for networking

The best type of workplace fun creates congratulations and "high fives" among coworkers. It might be a non-competitive ice breaker event scheduled in the office before a company meeting. Or it could be a sporting event that takes place after work with departmental teams that compete at the bowling alley or on the ball field. Lots of different activities can teach employees how working as a team can be fun as well as productive.

Social interaction among coworkers allows for an opportunity to improve one's "Soft Skills", or people skills. Soft skills are the compliment to Hard skills, which are the technical requirements of a job.

When having fun, we get to see our coworkers and managers in a more casual light. This glimpse into their non-business personality may make them seem more human and foster an improved, genuine relationship.

Matt Weinstein, author of the book, Managing to Have Fun, says that many bosses and entrepreneurs find it difficult to have fun at work. He feels they need to learn how to build more fun into the workday and to celebrate successes. If that doesn't happen, Weinstein warns that bosses can drive away the top employees who are responsible for those company successes.

But management can't just mandate that everyone else celebrate and enjoy themselves. The boss must participate, especially in smaller companies. Top management always sets the tone for the entire company, so if their fun isn't genuine or sincere it'll be obvious to everyone else.

Let's be clear that the following behavior should not be considered fun:

Telling inappropriate jokes

Being deceptive or playing pranks

Making fun of or teasing coworkers

Mocking or mimicking management

Play that intentionally excludes someone

Having fun at work should result in a renewed feeling of cooperation and a shared mission. If it doesn't accomplish this goal, in my opinion it's not a good use of company time and resources.

"A smile is the shortest distance between people." – Victor Borge (1909-2000)

Laura Adams is the host of the popular MBA Working Girl Podcast.The content combines brainy business school theory with real-world business practice from her career as a business owner, manager, consultant and trainer. Subscribe for FREE to this top-rated show and get the useful MBA Essential Tip athttp://www.mbaworkinggirl.com


Do You Care Enough to Keep the Very Best?

May 23, 2008

Last night we went out to dinner at a French Bistro restaurant in our home town in Northern California. The food was very good other than our son not liking the anchovies in his Caesar salad! My wife and I commented that there seemed to be something missing.

The waiter did not engage you and seemed to be emotionally distant. The service was good, but no real effort was made to connect with us. It seemed so different than the Italian restaurants we love.

So what was the difference? My wife commented that you do not hear much about the French Bistro. The food was excellent, but we probably would not spread the word. Why? Because we did not feel cared about as customers.

Perhaps the owner of the Bistro could have a conversation with the waiter about the apparent disconnection with customers. The feedback given in a caring way could be pivotal to the success of the restaurant and the employee.

Do you create a remarkable experience for your customers where they are happy to spread the word? It does not take a marketing budget, rather a mindset of building relationships.

Engaged workers produce more, make more money for the company, and create emotional engagement and loyal customers. They contribute to good working environments where people are productive, ethical and accountable. They stay with the organization longer and are more committed to quality and growth than are the other two groups of not-engaged and actively disengaged workers.

Happily Engaged Workers

• Employees must have a strong relationship with their manager.

• They must have clear communication from their manager

• They need a clear path set for concentrating on what they do best

• They need strong relationships with their coworkers

• They must feel a strong commitment with their coworkers so that they take risks and stretch for

excellence

Engaged employees tend to get the least amount of focus and attention from managers, in part because they are doing what they are needed to do. They set goals, meet and exceed expectations and charge enthusiastically toward the next tough task.

Great managers do not leave these excellent employees alone. They spend most of their time with the most productive and talented people because they have the most potential.

The challenge for managers comes when the first signs of disengaging appear from an engaged worker. The symptoms need to be addressed immediately or else the disconnection is most likely to continue. Most of the time this disengagement process can be interrupted by having meaningful conversations that strengthen commitment through relationship.

Do you take the time to keep the very best fully engaged?

Working with a seasoned executive coach trained in emotional intelligence and incorporating leadership assessments such as the BarOn EQi and CPI 260 can help you become a fully engaged leader. You can become a leader who models emotional intelligence and social intelligence, and who inspires people to become happily engaged with the strategy and vision of the company.

Dr. Maynard Brusman is a consulting psychologist, executive coach and trusted adviser to senior leadership teams. We provide strategic talent management solutions to select and develop emotionally intelligent leaders and lawyers.

The Society for Advancement of Consulting (SAC) awarded two rare "Board Approved" designations for Dr. Maynard Brusman in the specialties of Executive/Leadership Coaching and Trusted Advisor to Attorneys and Law Firms.

Subscribe to Working Resources FREE electronic newsletter at http://www.workingresources.com Visit Maynard's Blog at http://www.WorkingResourcesBlog.com

P.O. Box 471525
San Francisco, California 94147-1525

Tel:
415-546-1252
Fax:
415-721-7322
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maynard_Brusman

 

 

 


3 Customer Service Ideas to Earn Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty

May 23, 2008

By Sherri Wynters 

Customer service has never been worse than it is in today's business environment. With companies trimming their budgets as much as possible, there isn't the time or money to spend on customer service skills. If it can be automated, it gets automated no matter how inconvenient it is for the customer.

How many times have you been ready for the now familiar message "please listen carefully for our options have changed" only to find yourself screaming at the phone after one too many option levels? Hey - it works for the business - it keeps their operating overhead down - they don't have to staff as many people as they used to because the call tree does the job on auto-pilot. No late or sick employee to worry about. No customers complaining about your phone receptionist cutting them off or having a bad attitude.

When you stop to think about all the conveniences we have lost over the years, it's pretty astounding. Doesn't it seem like we're doing more with all the automation that was supposed to make our lives easier? No more secretaries; we have a computer. No more gas jockey; we can do it ourselves and we even get to watch TV while we're pumping. Nobody to answer your call or tell you when they will; you can leave a message.

I don't know about you but all this convenience can be very frustrating for me. I can't ever sit back and let somebody else do the task because I'm expected to use self-serve. I remember the days when service people were expected to be extremely helpful. We have begun to expect poor service and we are no longer surprised when it occurs.

This is the perfect time for small businesses to step up and offer that which cannot be offered by the big companies. Convenience is such a big selling point, how about offering customer service as a convenience for your customers? Many small businesses are run by owners that are too busy running the business to implement good customer service on the Internet. In fact, customer issues may be rare and infrequently occurring, but as the business grows good customer service becomes a necessity. The business owner will eventually find it difficult and overwhelming in the long run.

The post sales process is just as important as the initial sales process when it comes to customer loyalty. A poorly treated customer will not have a reason to do business with you again even when you roll out new products and services. Here's three ideas for you to implement that will not take excessive time or money but will increase customer satisfaction and customer loyalty:

  Follow-Up Personally with an Irate Customer
Running a business is like having a new adventure every day. You can never be surprised when the unexpected happens, only be ready to deal with it. When things go terribly wrong for your customer, have someone follow-up with a phone call. You may be surprised to learn that Internet shoppers think of online businesses with a bit of celebrity stars in their eyes. It is totally unexpected that an online business would call them to apologize for any inconvenience and make sure the issue was resolved to their satisfaction. I've done it - it works like a charm every time.

Use Words and Phrases Guaranteed to Calm Any Customer
Customers enjoy the speed of the purchase and the anticipation of the immediate download shopping on the Internet for digital products. Things can go bump in the night at any point in the purchase process, even getting to the download page. Make it easy for your customer to report the issue by having at least one method guaranteed to get results within four hours. And then be sure you always include "we apologize for the inconvenience", "please reopen this ticket if further assistance is needed", "thank you for notifying us of this problem", "please", "thank you", "we're so sorry for the delay", etc. This type of acknowledgment lets the customer know that you care. Isn't that really what we want?

Give the Customer Value for Their Inconvenience
New people are coming to the Internet every day so you should expect and plan for the "this is my first time" issues. One way you can do that is to provide your customer with more information than is required to resolve the issue. For example, solving the issue and telling your customer how to prevent a similar issue in the future will assist them in using the Internet and they will greatly appreciate the extra time and effort your business took to assist them.

Combine all three of the above ideas and you will provide customer service few have seen on the Internet, let alone in many offline businesses today.

Digital Info Diva™ supports Internet Marketers. Sign up for The Diva's customer service tips for Internet businesses and learn how to profit from your customer issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherri_Wynters

 

 


How Showing a Little Appreciation Motivates Employees

May 18, 2008

Morale Builder Martin Haworth

There are a whole load of resources you can find on 'motivation'. Books, tapes, internet etc. Yet it need not be so complicated…

Recently, I had the opportunity to show appreciation to someone. I was really surprised to hear back from her the following, "Are you being sarcastic?" It turned out that she had never been appreciated. No one had ever said a simple "Thank you" to her.

That's it this week, notice good work and say thank you.

When?
When can you apply this? Well, it's easy to apply it to everything you see good in people and their performance. But, if it's been something you haven't made a habit of in the past, you need to be a bit smarter than that, to avoid your people wondering what's going on - even worse, they might end up being rather suspicious of what's going on.

So in this case, try and pick out special efforts of each of your people at least once a week to start with. Be fair and consistent with everyone. When that embeds, try it twice a week. Be real though, saying thank-you and giving greater appreciation when it doesn't really mean anything, will end up with a response like I heard above.

Where?
Where can you use this simple encouragement? It's easy. Find the moment when you experience something good from your team members and share your appreciation in the moment if you can. It is so powerful to say it as it happens. And again, even if you forget at the time, don't give up on it, being able to say, "I meant to tell you earlier, but I missed the opportunity, thank you for the way you…", still works.

In fact this can be even more powerful - that you meant to say something, forgot, yet still found the time not to miss the opportunity show how much you really care. Strong relationship building stuff!

Back to the point - where? Anywhere that you notice.

Keep praise informal and frequent so that your people come to appreciate it when it's due (them appreciating you eh?). So not just in an office, but out in the workplace - in the moment.

Why?
Why bother? Well now, let's see. When was the last time someone thanked you for a great piece of work? When was the last time someone thanked you for your help today?

If you haven't been on the receiving end, then I'm sorry. But when you have been, it's a great warm feeling when you are recognised for the efforts you've made. Going home at the end of the day feeling that your contribution is valuable and valued is a very strong motivator.

Your people will feel much more inclined to come back the next day, to a job they do well and feel appreciated for.

So if you have had that experience - share it with your people and if you haven't, try it out on others and see the benefit it creates.

Being appreciated is one of the strongest motivators I know for people - give it a go - and there's no time like the present!

Enjoy!

Copyright 2006 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com.)
"Used by permission of
www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com"

 


Putting the "Service" Back in "Customer Service"

May 17, 2008

by: pianopl123
 The future of customer service is here. Technology has made seeking out support faster and easier than ever. But, has your digital age company sacrificed true service in the name of automation?

Today, finding customer support is as simple as writing an e-mail or picking up the phone. But, even though you're not face-to-face with your customers, you still leave a lasting impression. Do you come across as caring and competent, or menacing and mechanical?

Offering stand-out service on the Internet isn't as hard as it is rare. Take these simple steps towards old-style service in the digital age:

Give Each Customer a Personal Response
Be Clear, But Sincere
Offer Live Customer Support
Make Sure Your Support Reps Have All the Answers

/public_html/members/images/ Give Each Customer a Personal Response
When a customer sits down to e-mail your company, it's because he needs help. He chooses e-mail because it's quick, but his request still warrants a satisfying and personal response!

Companies eager to save time and money often take automation too far in their customer support. Each customer has a unique question, and deserves a unique answer. Even if you save time by copying and pasting stock replies, change the opening and closing to make the message sound less robotic.

/public_html/members/images/ Be Clear, But Sincere
When responding to customers' e-mail, be sincere and to the point. Before sending a message, try turning the tables. Ask yourself, "Would this answer satisfy me if I were the customer?"

Take that extra moment to give your customer the help he deserves. It might mean the difference between a satisfied customer and a credit card chargeback!

/public_html/members/images/ Offer Live Customer Support
E-mail has become an acceptable form of communication. But, live customer support is still necessary. The plethora of information available online can be overwhelming to customers, especially those new to the Internet!

Single your company out from the crowd by providing customers with a real person to talk to. Live phone support is an invaluable way to foster trust. When your customer has reached the end of his Internet rope, and just needs help, your toll free number is the answer he's looking for.

/public_html/members/images/ Make Sure Your Support Reps Have All The Answers
The presence of phone support will do no good if your staff doesn't know your product! Customer support reps should be warm and friendly, and willing to help with any aspect of your product.

What a good feeling it is to talk to someone who feels confident in his product. It's even better if he's knowledgeable enough to solve your problem without transferring you all around the company!

/public_html/members/images/ Provide Stand-Out Service; Gain Lifelong Customers
Too many e-businesses skimp on customer service, hiding behind web sites and message boards. Customer support is an integral part of every company, even those operating solely online. Be one of the few to offer stellar service, and gain customers for life!

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/


What's new this week at Call Center Cafe` May 16th

May 16, 2008

What's new this week at Call Center Cafe`

With so many new articles and features, it might be hard to keep up with all the great articles on Call Center Cafe. We thought we would make it a little easier on you.  Here are a few of our newest postings from the week.

Enjoy!

The Call Center Cafe` Staff

What Every Supervisor Should Know To Succeed - Set the Example

Did you get a chance to read this post on what a supervisor needs? Shaun Kieran shares with reader that you may not need to be perfect but you should know how to handle yourself at work. Interesting thoughts. 


   Have You Had Your Laugh Today?

Jody Urquhart strikes again with another of her articles on bringing fun into the workplace. Did you realize that a two-minute belly laugh is equal to 10 minutes on a rowing machine in terms of boosting your heart rate? Have fun this one! 


  How to Manage Attrition Levels

 Julie Mcvey writes about a subject near and dear to many of us- attrition.

One of the biggest costs for most employers in today’s market place is recruitment of quality staff. In order to reduce this cost every organization should have in place ‘staff retention action plans’.



Motivation - 7 Tips To Keep Your Motivation Fire Burning!

Motivation is an essential part of everything we do … it governs whether or not we will successfully achieve our goals and dreams throughout life.



Crisis Management

Martin Haworth wrote this piece a awhile back to talk about how to manage in a crisis. I found his 3 priorities to be spot on. Take a few moments to read Martin's message and let us know what you think through the comments section just below the article.



How to tell if HR hired the wrong person


Quality Queen A little call center humor by Gail. She pokes a stick toward training attrition. Hope this one brings a chuckle or two.

 


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