390 Good Service Goes Both Ways
Anyone who has ever worked in customer service has at some point or another dealt with that one customer. You know the type, the huffy, irritable, “My issues are more important than your wellbeing and rules” that insist and demand everything, while demeaning you in the process. Unfortunately, these people will always exist, however what we can change is how we allow these types of interactions to affect us.
In today’s episode Sarah Elkins tells the story of one of her own unruly customer moments, as well as how she chose to learn and grow from the experience in order to teach others.
Highlights
Respect others. Especially those who are in a position of community service.
Carrying your work home with you is not healthy for you.
When you are rude and nasty to people, no one will be in your corner.
Quotes
“But then it hit me, I should write a book about customer service. The point would be that good service goes both ways. If you want good customer service try being a good customer first.”
“Because it’s easier to provide good customer service when you are looking at it from the perspective of the customer.”
Dear Listeners it is now your turn,
Can you think of a time when you weren’t the best customer? When whatever was going on in your life erupted into a situation and you treated someone badly? Did you apologize? Can you think of a time when you had exceptional service? Did you tell the person or their manager? Did you write a rave review? What made the experience memorable?
We need kindness around us. You know the old saying that people are fighting battles we know nothing about. And when you’re frustrated with a situation it’s rarely the fault of the employee in front of you. And most of the time they can’t fix it without engaging their supervisor. So start with kindness and develop an advocate for yourself. Let’s do our best to bring our best to others.
And, as always, thank you for listening.
About Sarah
"Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision."
In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I’ve realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don’t realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they’re sharing them with.
My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home.
The audiobook, Your Stories Don’t Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available!
Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana.
Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!