Have you ever had a complaint about a product or service that got you so riled up that you just couldn’t deal with it passively? You just had to unload your feelings to the store or salesperson or the professional who disrespected you. You just needed a good argument to get it off your chest.
But did you ever have the experience of getting that situation defused and resolved without tension because the person dealing with your complaint was a real human being who was reasonable, respectful, and oriented toward satisfying you?
How did that make you feel? Pretty good, I bet. There’s probably a good chance that you then continued to use that store or service provider because of excellent customer service. Now think about utilizing that behavior yourself.
We are all in the business of providing “customer service” in our interactions with others – although we may not call it by that name. People who are well-liked didn’t get that way by accident. While many attributes go into the development of popularity, empathy and a positive attitude go a long way in the establishment of how you are perceived by others.
Negativity, sarcasm and defensiveness are safe. If you use them as your primary strategies in interacting with others, you don’t have to worry about them being critical of you. You’ve established the ground rules for the relationship and made yourself invulnerable to any negative jibes that may come back at you, but it doesn’t build closeness or respect.
People who display good customer service sometimes have to deal with complaints that they consider irrational, but they don’t let others’ irrationality determine their behavior. Some stores are known for their customer service – and you can be certain that it’s not because all their customers are more rational than those who shop in other stores.
If you decide that you are going to display good customer service in your interactions with others, you may be surprised at what a difference it will make in how you are received by others. Being known as a good person is really a good reputation to have earned.