4 simple ways to deliver great customer service

August 28, 2007 · Posted in Motivation, People Skills, Success

Whatever happened to keeping your commitments? What’s wrong with people? Don’t you realize that if you say that you are going to do something, then all logic says that there will be someone waiting for you and depending on you to perform as you have promised?

I am continually amazed with the lack of respect ( and that is what it is ) people demonstrate by not following-up and delivering as they have indicated they would. Has this practice become so commonplace that others expect this to occur and therefore overlook it?

If you are one of those people who doesn’t keep your commitments, then sooner or later there is going to be some “young gun” who comes along and realizes that what people really want is great customer service – then you are going to have to learn to hustle.

Here are a few hints:

Don’t promise anything that you know you cannot deliver. Don’t tell me that you will email me some needed info or quotes later today and expect tomorrow to be just as good. It’s not. If I asked for them today, then I need them today – tomorrow is not the same thing. If it happens more than once, then I start looking at your competition and I will definitely shop my needs around. Don’t believe that the lowest price will keep my business – it won’t! Keeping your word will.
If it’s important, then write it down. I forgot is not a valid excuse for not living up to your commitments. Don’t be naive enough to think that you will remember what was said – you won’t! Write it down, make notes and review them! This alone will make you more productive than the vast majority of back-slapping, “I’ll deliver the world” salesmen.
Under-promise and over-deliver. If you tell me that you will deliver something next week and then are able to deliver this week, then I notice (and so does everyone else) and I appreciate it. In fact, I am likely to tell my friends and associates about what a great service you provide. But the opposite is also true.
Keep your commitment to yourself. You didn’t go into business to “just get by”. You didn’t become a salesman to be average. You began with a commitment to yourself to be and do your best. If you want to be the best, then do the best. It’s really very simple. And believe me when I say that if you improve just a little, then you will have the rest of the pack beaten, easily.

I am sick and tired of empty promises. Tell me what you can do, when you can do it and then do it! That’s all that you have to do to deliver exceptional customer service.