23 Recommendations To Being a Better Customer Service Rep

1) Be Humble: It doesn't matter what you know or what you did before. What matters is that you conduct yourself professionally and match your products and services with the needs of your patron.

2) Be Honest: Never misrepresent or mislead when presenting your product/service.

3) Sell Service and Sell Some More: The best customer service provider will ensure all their patron's needs are met. Present all the products and services that benefit the needs of your patron and work with them. There is such a thing as overselling but even more damaging to your reputation and career can be underselling. Believe it or not it is in the best interest of the customer that you show them everything you have to offer to ensure their needs are fully met.

4) Shut up and LISTEN!: The most important customer service tools you have are the appendages sticking out the sides of your head. There is a difference between hearing and listening. The latter helps you to establish the needs of your patron. In fact, it is the only way you will be able to properly service a patron.

Talking too much means you are not listening which means you cannot effectively service your patron and meet all their needs. Only say what is necessary and never interrupt a customer.

5) Never judge a person by his/her cover: In the art business I had clients as young as 5 years old, some that dress like vagrants and have money to burn, and others that dress to look like a million bucks and don't have a dime. Not all children are so privileged to start their own art collection at such a tender age and you never know a person's financial situation by looking at them. Remember that children grow up to be paying consumers and their parents already are.

Make sure you give every person a great experience because you never know what the future may hold.

6) Know your role: As a customer service representative you are the frontline of your company. Your job title includes being an ambassador for your company even when you are not on company time. Patrons cannot differentiate between you as an individual and your company as a whole. You are the first contact and the face of your company so put your best foot forward.

7) Respect: Always respect your superiors, colleagues, subordinates, company, customers, and yourself. As an entry level employee your reputation is your only selling point in the future until experience and other qualifications are acquired.

8) Give the Best and Be the Best: Whether you are compensated on commission, gratuities, salary, or hourly wage you depend on the satisfaction of customers for your employment. Having stated that, you must always ensure a positive experience to each and every prospective patron and long standing customer.

9) Work like you don't need the money: This is a tried and true philosophy practiced by all successful people. If you don't like what you're doing now that is okay; Make sure you recognize and optimize the opportunities that will help prepare you for the future.

There is a long raging battle between those that do not tip and service industry veterans. Servers should work like they don't care if they make a dime and always remember the great tippers make up for the bad ones. If a server consistently pulls donut tips (doesn't make a dime or very little) it is time to check the attitude and look for another career.

10) Be positive: Maintaining a positive attitude is essential! It is not a customer's fault you are having a bad day and your workplace should not suffer from your negative energy. Deal with personal problems and bad moods at home where they belong. I know you're only human, but you want to be successful, right? I am not suggesting you become the office clown but in order to be successful you must be professional. If you struggle with being positive when you're feeling negged out, try to find constructive ways to learn to deal with that. If you can't make it then you need to fake it until you make it.

11) Follow the 8's: Attitude (positive), Be on time, Be prepared, Know your Territory, Know your Opportunity, Take Control, Work a Full Day, and Respect.

Your employer, company, customers, career, and future depend on you mastering these disciplines.

12) Know your Territory: Know the responsibilities and duties of your job description with clarity. If you are unsure about something be sure to ask questions.

13) Be Prepared: Unexpected variables arise everyday. The only way to be successful is to expect the unexpected and have a Plan of Action.

14) R2A2: Ideas and concepts that will improve your work environment, increase productivity, and refine your skill set should be written down in an R2A2.

15) Accountability: Hold yourself accountable for both your successes and failures. Do not accept failures or mistakes; instead turn them into opportunities. Never make excuses no matter how tempting it may be. (This is one of the 8's Take Control)

16) Every Skill You Need To Have For A Successful Career You Will Learn In Customer Service: You may not appreciate the opportunity and respect earned through working in customer service, but it is priceless. We do not live in a Caste System Society so you do not have a birth
right to any position, salary, or opportunity. Everything must be earned through hard work.

17) Suck Up Your Pride and Stick It Where It Belongs: In your workmanship.

18) Never Pass the Buck: Take responsibility for your mistakes and own up to them. When a customer asks a question do not a) close your eyes and hope they go away b) dive under your desk and hide c) send them to another department you know won't have the answers d) make something up

Instead: Admit you don't know the answer but you can find it or somebody that can. If it is necessary to direct your customer to another person you should summarize the question and emphasize which points are important when you find that person (ie: are they in a hurry? Have they tried without success to acquire the answer before?) Be specific.

19) Never bad mouth the competition to make yourself or your company look better.

20) Know and understand that your personal life and habits can and will affect your professional image and future career opportunities.

21) Your Mommy Doesn't Take Care of You At Work: Pick up after yourself and be respectful. Even if you do work with your mother, leave the familial relationship and dependency at home.

22) Don't Be Emotional: Part of being professional means not bursting into tears everytime your feelings get hurt. Your feelings are going to get hurt and your employer isn't responsible for your emotional stability. Handle issues through the appropriate channels in a professional manner and grow a thick skin. Life is tough you'll need it.

23)Suck Up Your Pride and Serve With A Smile. No matter how terrible you are treated, you are expected to be grateful for giving a patron the privilege of  degrading your intelligence, character, and value as a human being. It is not right and a manager that allows you to be treated in such a way is not a manager you want to be working for. Suck up your pride, hold back those tears, and demonstrate through professionalism how wrong that patron is. It isn't personal its business and an opportunity to work on a most valuable skill for your future.