It is particularly difficult to be nice to people who are not being nice to you.
Therefore, what do you do to keep your cool when the customer is chewing you out Most of the time it is not even your fault. It could be that someone else in your organization with a product or a service delivered the problem. You are getting the blame because the unhappy person found you first and it is not pleasant. When faced with angry people four key steps will help diffusing the situation.
Step 1 is to apologize. However, you say it is not my fault. It does not matter whose to blame apologize anyway. As a representative of your company, you have a responsibility to see that things go well. Your willingness to be accountable will have a positive effect. After all, it takes two to have an argument. If one of you refuses to be disagreeable, you cannot have a disagreement. You are not accepting blame-you are simply saying I m sorry about the problem. You are wasting your breath unless you apologize with complete sincerity so be sure that your tone of voice matches your words.
Step 2 is to sympathize with the irate customer. Let the person know that you can identify with his feelings. Say that you understand the frustration of receiving a faulty product or poor service. The angry person begins to feel better as soon as his reaction is validated.
Step 3 is to accept responsibility for the situation. Be accountable to the customer. Let him know that you intend to do whatever it takes to make things right. You cannot help what has already happened but you will come up with a solution to the problem or you will find someone who can.
The last step is to take action. Decide what you can do and tell the customer. You will replace the defective or incorrect product as quickly as possible. If the issue was poor service, deliver better service. Whenever you can offer a bonus of some sort or waive fees the tiger before you is transformed into a pussycat.
Use the acronym ASAP to remember these four steps for calming upset customers. Each letter stands for part of the process.
A is apologize.
S represents sympathize.
A stand for accept responsibility.
P means prepare to take action.
Nothing will be solved by becoming argumentative and reactionary. Instead, diffuse the client’s anger by being apologetic and sympathetic and focus on positive steps that will resolve the situation. Before you know it, your adversaries will become your allies.
Oh yes remember to smile. It will make everyone feel better and behave better.
Therefore, what do you do to keep your cool when the customer is chewing you out Most of the time it is not even your fault. It could be that someone else in your organization with a product or a service delivered the problem. You are getting the blame because the unhappy person found you first and it is not pleasant. When faced with angry people four key steps will help diffusing the situation.
Step 1 is to apologize. However, you say it is not my fault. It does not matter whose to blame apologize anyway. As a representative of your company, you have a responsibility to see that things go well. Your willingness to be accountable will have a positive effect. After all, it takes two to have an argument. If one of you refuses to be disagreeable, you cannot have a disagreement. You are not accepting blame-you are simply saying I m sorry about the problem. You are wasting your breath unless you apologize with complete sincerity so be sure that your tone of voice matches your words.
Step 2 is to sympathize with the irate customer. Let the person know that you can identify with his feelings. Say that you understand the frustration of receiving a faulty product or poor service. The angry person begins to feel better as soon as his reaction is validated.
Step 3 is to accept responsibility for the situation. Be accountable to the customer. Let him know that you intend to do whatever it takes to make things right. You cannot help what has already happened but you will come up with a solution to the problem or you will find someone who can.
The last step is to take action. Decide what you can do and tell the customer. You will replace the defective or incorrect product as quickly as possible. If the issue was poor service, deliver better service. Whenever you can offer a bonus of some sort or waive fees the tiger before you is transformed into a pussycat.
Use the acronym ASAP to remember these four steps for calming upset customers. Each letter stands for part of the process.
A is apologize.
S represents sympathize.
A stand for accept responsibility.
P means prepare to take action.
Nothing will be solved by becoming argumentative and reactionary. Instead, diffuse the client’s anger by being apologetic and sympathetic and focus on positive steps that will resolve the situation. Before you know it, your adversaries will become your allies.
Oh yes remember to smile. It will make everyone feel better and behave better.
