If you are like everyone else who deals with other people on a daily basis, you’ve had a customer that wants to be sure that all of the “i’s” have been dotted and that all of the “t’s” have been crossed. They expect that you, as a representative of your firm, will have made it your mission to ensure that the customer is satisfied with the solution to the problem at hand. Here are some steps that you can take to ensure that this customer is not only satisfied, but will sing your praises to others.
- Let the customer see that you have a plan – This customer wants to see that problems are solved, that needs are met, in a systematic way.
- Show the customer that you know the steps that must be taken and let the customer see what those steps are – This customer wants and needs a sense of structure and predictability. When your customer knows what the steps are, he or she can see exactly where you are in the process and knows what to expect will happen next.
- Check and double check – As you go through each step in the process, tell the customer what has been done and what will be done next. Confirm that the results are meeting the customer’s wants and needs.
- Keep the customer in the loop regarding time frames. Let the customer know when things are on schedule; and, perhaps of even greater importance, let the customer know when the schedule will not be met and what steps you are taking to get things back on time.
- Follow-through and finish what you start – Your customer has a strong need to see things through to the end and expects you to have the same desire. Let the customer know that you will be there until the need has been met; or, until the problem has been solved. If the situation requires that you hand the customer over to another person, let the customer know this fact and why the new person is the best person to meet the needs of the particular situation.
Customer Service is all about meeting your customer’s needs … their needs as they pertain to the services that you and your company provide; and, the needs of their specific personality type. Put your customer’s needs, product needs and personality needs, first and you will earn a customer for life; a customer who will be loyal to you, your firm, and who will bring you other customers who want the first class service that you provide.