If you’re in the customer service business, you know that customer satisfaction, enthusiasm, and loyalty are not instantaneous. Goodwill- is built over time and through several acts of kindness.
Unfortunately, months of good will can be destroyed by three seconds of sarcasm or one thoughtless remark. It’s like the sign at the gas station during the week of the high school reunion, “Welcome Home, Alumni.” Under it was written, “No out-of-town checks accepted.”
To make sure you’re building good will with your customers, ask yourself two questions every day. First, how can I make my customers feel pleased, surprised, or special today? Your customers can probably purchase your goods or services somewhere else, but not everyone else is consciously trying to make their customer feel pleased, surprised, or special.
Second, what turns off my customer? You’ve got to know what turns off your customers and then not do any of those things. You can’t make missteps or misstatements, like the ad I saw at an auto dealership, that read, “Why go anywhere else and get cheated when you can come here.” Remember bad will takes just a moment.
Action:
Fill in the blank. “I impress my customers when _________,” and list 10 to 20 items. Now do at least one of those things with every customer you meet today.