What are some key customer service skills? I’ll give you three that are more specific than just “good communication” or “empathy” and are crucial for any person working with customers.
Active Listening
First is active listening. In today’s digitally distracted world, attention is one of the most valuable resources. Active listening makes sure that you actually are giving customers your attention and lets them know that they’re being paid attention to.
Depersonalization
We do not know our customer’s story. Often when we interact with them, they are not at their best. The ability to understand that it’s not personal is crucial to having the emotional calm and presence of mind to help resolve the customer’s emotions and to move the interaction forward.
Problem Solving
Finally, problem solving. Customer service is not easy and many customer situations are challenging. Creative problem solving skills are essential to great customer service. To be a true customer hero, you’ll need a lot of other skills, but active listening, depersonalization, and problem solving are three that will take you far.
About the Author Adam Toporek
By Adam Toporek. Adam Toporek is an internationally recognized customer service expert, keynote speaker, and workshop leader. He is the author of Be Your Customer's Hero: Real-World Tips & Techniques for the Service Front Lines (2015), as well as the founder of the popular Customers That Stick® blog and co-host of the Crack the Customer Code podcast.
