By Marty Chester, M.S.Ed. When you’re the face and voice of your company, representing your brand with good communication pays off for the customer and also boosts your career. Good customer service skills can be learned, applied, and bring value inside and outside your career. The following information can help streamline your skills and set you apart.
How to Communicate More Effectively with Customers
Gaining customers and keeping them happy are the main goals of good customer service communication. The ability to listen and solve problems quickly is key. Here are a few tips to help you communicate more effectively with customers:
- Listen before you speak to understand your customer’s needs
- Stay calm and speak slowly and clearly to avoid misunderstandings
- Repeat the issue or question to show customer you understand
- Resolve the issue, communicating how you are helping
- Review the issue and resolution to make sure there are no other concerns
- Use gratitude to turn a negative situation into a positive experience
Improving your Communication Skills can Help your Career
Using the tips above to communicate clearly and resolve issues quickly will help you in your current job and move you forward on your career track. Focusing on these top three communication skills listed below can also provide the boost you need to move your career to the next level:
- Active Listening – pay close attention when others speak and ask clarifying questions to show your interest. Listen to understand, then respond appropriately.
- Awareness – understanding different communication styles (passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive) builds confidence and solid teams.
- Persuasion – learning how to bring others on board an idea or project is a challenging and rewarding skill that will instantly set you apart.
Ways to Improve your Communication Skills Today
By now, you probably have a good idea where your communication skills need improvement. But how do you make changes? Learning opportunities include debate clubs, public speaking events, and taking online courses designed to help you broaden your communication skills and give you opportunities to practice on multiple platforms, like taking an online class such as Introduction to Communication. A good communication course will explore what communication can do for you and teach you how to send a message with verbal and non-verbal cues that is well-received and understood. You’ll learn about conflict resolution and negotiation, intercultural communication and how to navigate interviews, group presentations and more. There is no doubt, investing in your communication skills will lift your career with valuable tools you can use at any career level, in any situation. While customer service is all about communication, the skills you develop and polish in this key role will be priceless as you navigate your career path. If you’re thinking about going back to school and wondering which majors provide the most opportunities now and in the future, read What are the Top Degrees in Demand for the Future on the StraighterLine blog.
