Achieving Customer Service Excellence
Course Overview:
Achieving customer service excellence is not accomplished by accident, nor is it attained without effort and teamwork. It requires well–trained customer service professionals who have a passion for providing quality service. This course emphasizes the professional communication skills and actions that create the foundation for continuous improvement.
In today’s customer-oriented business environment, “people skills” are critical for career advancement and organizational effectiveness. The program emphasizes the importance of providing customer service excellence in a competitive environment, proven strategies for service recovery, and negotiation techniques for professionally dealing with difficult customers.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this course, the participants will be able to:
- Establish the importance of setting and reviewing customer service standards
- Develop an understanding of internal and external customer expectations
- Communicate more effectively by utilizing active listening and questioning skills
- Demonstrate how to deal with difficult customers effectively
- Set SMART objectives and goals to increase daily productivity
- Utilize stress management techniques to reduce tension
- Identify key components that promote customer retention and loyalty
- Describe the practices of a world-class customer service provider and model their performance on those practices
- Utilize interpersonal skills as vital tools in the provision of customer service
- Develop a customer-focused mindset for continuous improvement
- Improved conflict resolution skills
Course Coverage:
Topic 1: Setting the Standards for Customer Service Excellence:
- The benefits of providing excellent customer service
- Breakout session: How to use customer service to promote customer loyalty
- Case study: The best and worst customer service providers
- The WOW Factor: Going the extra mile…and then some!
- The importance of managing internal and external customer expectations
- First impressions: What do your customers see and hear?
- Understanding and working with the four customer styles
Topic 2: Communicating the Customer Service Message:
- How well does your organization communicate the importance of customer service?
- Understanding your customer’s nonverbal communication
- Tips for building trust and rapport quickly…face-to-face or on the telephone
- What is your preferred learning style?
- Developing your active listening skills to enhance communications
- Use questioning techniques to identify a customer’s expectations and service requirements
- Telephone tips to promote a professional image
- The (do)'s and (don’t)'s of written communication
Topic 3: Service Recovery: Handling Complaints and Difficult Customers:
- The importance of customer complaints and why they should be encouraged
- Six Steps to service recovery
- Case Study: Best Practices of Scandinavian Airlines and The Disney Corporation
- Strategies to help calm upset customers
- Managing emotions during stressful situations
- Empower employees to get the job done
- Breakout session: Step-by-step process for handling a customer complaint
Topic 4: Principles of Persuasion:
- Requesting feedback from customers and colleagues
- The art of giving and receiving feedback
- Case study: Best practices - Xerox’s Five Pillars of Customer-focused Strategy
- Negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes
- Words and tones to avoid
- The RATER Model: Five Dimensions of customer service excellence
- Best practices for call handling, documentation and quality assurance
- Measuring and monitoring customer satisfaction
Topic 5: Getting the Right Customer Service Attitude:
- The importance of attitude and teamwork
- Focusing on continuous improvement
- Stress management tips to increase productivity
- Practical exercise: What are your biggest “timewasters” that block productivity?
- The customer service mission and vision
- Setting personal and professional goals
Targeted Groups:
- Customer Service Managers and Supervisors
- Customer Service Representatives
- Managers who want customer service training reinforce their skills and train their staff.