The Customer Service Survival Kit : What to Say to Defuse Even the Worst Customer Situations

By providing clear techniques, behavioral science insights, case studies, situation-specific advice, and actionable practice exercises, workplace communication expert Richard Gallagher has created a resource that can help anyone master the delicate art of communication. The Customer Service Survival Kit recognizes that the worst customer situations demand more of front-line employees than good intentions and the right attitude. The book includes tangible tips and tricks to help readers discover how to lean into criticism, how to avoid trigger phrases that can make bad situations worse, the secret to helping people feel heard, how to safely deliver bad news, and how to become immune to intimidation--among many other skills.Issues with customers can send even the most seasoned service professionals into red alert. But you don’t need to be a crisis counselor to effectively communicate your way out of a difficult spot. With the help of these valuable insights, lessons, and indispensable problem-solving tools, your organization holds the key to radically improving its customer service reputation.

The worst customer situations demand more of front-line employees than good intentions and the right attitude. These kinds of issues can send seasoned service professionals into red alert, and require the communication skills of a crisis counselor.

The Customer Service Survival Kit explains how to use the right words to turn volatile scenarios into calm and productive customer encounters. Anyone can learn this delicate art with the book’s blend of clear techniques, lessons from behavioral science, case studies, situation-specific advice, and practice exercises. Readers will discover:

• The power of leaning into criticism

• Trigger phrases that can make bad situations worse

• The secret to helping people feel deeply heard in a crisis

• How to use the divide-and-conquer approach to safely deliver bad news

• Indispensable problem-solving tools

• How to become immune to intimidation

• How to wrap up transactions so that customers are happy

• And more!

Best yet, learning to handle worst-case scenarios has the spillover effect of boosting the skills and confidence needed to deal effectively with ANY customer—the key to radical improvements in every organization.

"The worst customer situations demand more of front-line employees than good intentions and the right attitude. These kinds of issues can send seasoned service professionals into red alert, and require the communication skills of a crisis counselor. The Customer Service Survival Kit explains how to use the right words to turn volatile scenarios into calm and productive customer encounters. Anyone can learn this delicate art with the book's blend of clear techniques, lessons from behavioral science, case studies, situation-specific advice, and practice exercises. Readers will discover: The power of leaning into criticism ; Trigger phrases that can make bad situations worse ; The secret to helping people feel deeply heard in a crisis ; How to use the divide-and-conquer approach to safely deliver bad news ; Indispensable problem-solving tools ; How to become immune to intimidation ; How to wrap up transactions so that customers are happy ; And more! Best yet, learning to handle worst-case scenarios has the spillover effect of boosting the skills and confidence needed to deal effectively with ANY customer--the key to radical improvements in every organization."--Publisher's website. Issues with customers can send even the most seasoned service professionals into red alert. Discover how to effectively communicate your way out of any difficult spot. By providing clear techniques, behavioral science insights, case studies, situation-specific advice, and actionable practice exercises, workplace communication expert Richard Gallagher has created a resource that can help anyone master the delicate art of communication. In The?Customer Service Survival Kit, you'll find tangible tips and tricks to help you discover: how to lean into criticism, how to avoid trigger phrases that can make bad situations worse, the secret to helping people feel heard, how to safely deliver bad news, and how to become immune to intimidation—among many other skills. The Customer Service Survival Kit recognizes that the worst customer situations demand more of front-line employees than good intentions and the right attitude. With the help of these valuable insights, lessons, and indispensable problem-solving tools, your organization holds the key to radically improving its customer service reputation. Foreword / by Carol Roth Acknowledgments Introduction Why worst-case scenarios matter Understanding the "uh-oh" moment Tools for defusing a customer crisis Leaning into criticism Achieving deep acknowledgment Avoiding trigger phrases Divide and conquer: the safe way to deliver bad news Powerful problem solving: beyond "yes we can" and "no we can't" Reframing your message Grounding an angry outburst Becoming immune to intimidation The wrap-up Your worst customer situations solved! You're the boss Don't you know who i am? The concert that never was I'll be suing you Quelling a social-media firestorm Just plane terrible Anger management Not so smart Beyond the worst case When talking isn't enough : keeping yourself and your customer safe From customer crisis to excellent service : lessons for the whole Appendix solutions to putting learning into practice exercises References Index About the author. The right words can transform volatile scenarios into calm and productive encounters. But this book is about more than talk--it’s about making sure your customers are happy.