Handling Difficult Customers - 8 Strategies

In any business our customers are one of our most important assets. Unfortunately there are days when not all customers want to be friendly or pleasant. On days like this, try these effective tips to help you handle those difficult customers.

Don't take it personally ? remember when a customer complains they are unhappy with the product or your company ? not you.

Remember you are good at your job ? remind yourself of the skills you have and why you are working there. Don't allow customers to make you feel inadequate.

Write down their complaint or concern ? show the customer you are listening by recording their problem and if you are on the phone, tell the customer you are writing down all the details.

Ask a supervisor to join you and be part of the transaction ? if the customer is becoming more difficult, invite a supervisor to join you and the customer will notice you are treating them as important by seeking additional help.

Debrief the situation with someone else when the customer leaves ? sometimes you may need to talk to someone about your difficult customer to debrief and get rid of any negative thoughts and emotions you may have ? this is a very important step.

Learn stress management techniques ? this may help you stay calm if a customer raises their voice or becomes emotional. By learning to breath deeply, focus on the positives and also ensure your body doesn't carry stress you will be able to handle these difficult customers easily.

Recognise and accept you will work with customers who have bad days ? understand when you are working with the public some people take their bad days out on you ? it is not personal.

Consider what you could do differently next time ? if the customer is complaining about a company system or process, take some time to review this and determine if this might need to be changed. Think about the way you handled the customer and note anything you would do differently next time.

Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Find out more at http://neenjames.com/

---

Customer Service: Why Bears Make Bad Customers

Every business owner should have a picture of his or... Read More

What Do They Want Anyway?

You want customers. I want customers. We all want customers.... Read More

Customer Service - How Good Are YOU?

At 8.30 am a wealthy client (on his way to... Read More

Increase in Customer Sales = Increase in Customer Service

One of the most popular questions asked in online business... Read More

How Not to Get Stiffed, Improving Your Collection Procedures

Some businesses have slow paying customers or past due balances... Read More

Identify Your Silent Customer Service Message

With the growing number of people in every business sector,... Read More

Listening to Customers - 5 Tips

In a strange juxtapositioning of articles, this month's UK '... Read More

Courting Customers - From First Date to Marriage

Landing a new client is like courting a potential spouse.... Read More

Minimize The Pain of Check Recovery

$350 million in bad checks are written each and every... Read More

Say It With Humor

When you own a business, you may find yourself in... Read More

The 3 Rs of Customer Service

What I am about to tell you may seem very... Read More

Have You Hugged a Customer Today?

It all started a couple of weeks ago when a... Read More

What You Need to Know About CRM

1. It's all about the customer. Some companies focus too... Read More

Customer Service and Call Center Outsourcing, Whats The Buzz?

The buzz is all about customer service and call center... Read More

Customer Service, the Internets Primary Neglected Business Concern

Customer service is everything to a business. Just look at... Read More

How to Transform Your Voicemail into an Effective Medium of Communication

"Hi this is Randy. Leave me a message after the... Read More

Become a Customer Enthusiasm-Guru!

One thing all successful small business owners have in common... Read More

Customer Service Tips - Is Your Business A Leaky Bucket?

Customer service and customer service training are vital for any... Read More

Whats For Lunch?

As an entrepreneur, I'm always intrigued by small businesses, home-based... Read More

Passing the After-Sales Test

Some time ago a major UK food retailer decided to... Read More

Accountability

The Call Center world is an intense pressure-driven environment continually... Read More

Take Care of Yourself Before You Take Care of Your Customer

One of the most important questions people ask when they... Read More

Customer Service and Marketing that Works

Go into many businesses today and try and get service,... Read More

CRM For Beginners ? Customer Relationship Management Basics

In order to maintain a successful business, the business must... Read More

Retail Store U-Scan Machines: Self-Serve or Voluntary Part Time Job?

Do many of us realize that we are working an... Read More

Making Customer Satisfaction Surveys Work

Why bother? Good customer service is the life blood of... Read More

Listen to Suggestions

If you are up to your ears in a stressful... Read More

How to Retain Your Customers the Dish Network Way

Customer retention is vital to a business. If you cannot... Read More

Dont Forget your Existing Clients

Quest for new clients shouldn't ignore those who pay the... Read More

Develop Loyal Customers for a Lifetime ? part 1 (1 ? 10)

Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their... Read More

Dealing with People - Words to Avoid

You probably realise how the wrong tone of voice and... Read More

Develop Loyal Customers for a Lifetime ? part 2 (11 ? 20)

Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their... Read More

The History of CRM -- Moving Beyond the Customer Database

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one of those magnificent concepts... Read More