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At Your Service: The Ten Commandments of Great Customer Service,

Customer service is an integral part of your job and should not be seen as an extension of it. Your customers are your company's most vital assets. Without them, you would not and could not exist in business. When you satisfy your customers, they not only help you grow by continuing to do business with you, but they also recommend you to friends and associates.

The practice of customer service should be as present on the show floor as it is in any other sales environment.

The Ten Commandments of Customer Service

1. Know who is boss.

You are in business to service your customers' needs, and you can only do that if you know what it is your customers want. When you truly listen to your customers, they let you know what they want and how you can provide good service. Never forget that the customer pays your salary and makes your job possible.

2. Be a good listener.

Take the time to identify customer needs by asking questions and concentrating on what the customer is really saying. Listen to their words, tone of voice, body language, and most, importantly, how they feel. Beware of making assumptions - thinking you intuitively know what the customer wants. Do you know what three things are most important to your customer?

Effective listening and undivided attention are particularly important on the show floor where there is a great danger of preoccupation - looking around to see other potential customers whom you could be selling to.

3. Identify and anticipate needs.

Customers buy products and services, but they also buy good feelings and solutions to problems. Most customer needs are emotional rather than logical. The more you know your customers, the better you become at anticipating their needs. Communicate regularly so that you are aware of problems or upcoming needs.

4. Make customers feel important and appreciated.

Treat them as individuals. Always refer to them by name and find ways to compliment them, but be sincere. People value sincerity. It creates good feeling and trust. Think about ways to generate good feelings about doing business with you. Customers are very sensitive and know whether or not you really care about them. Thank them every time you get a chance.

On the show floor be sure that your body language conveys sincerity. Your words and actions should be congruent.

5. Help customers understand your systems.

Your organization may have the world's best systems for getting things done, but if customers don't understand them, they can get confused, impatient and angry. Take time to explain how your systems work and how they simplify transactions. Be careful that your systems don't reduce the human element of your organization.

6. Appreciate the power of "Yes."

Always look for ways to help your customers. When they have a request (as long as it is reasonable), tell them that you can do it. Figure out how afterwards. Look for ways to make doing business with you easy. Always do what you say you are going to do.

7. Know how to apologize.

When something goes wrong, apologize. It's easy and customers like it. The customer may not always be right, but the customer must always win. Deal with problems immediately, and let customers know what you have done. Make it simple for customers to complain. Value their complaints. As much as all of us dislike complaints, they give us opportunities to improve. Even if customers are having a bad day, go out of your way to make them feel comfortable.

8. Give more than expected.

Since the future of all companies lies in keeping customers happy, think of ways to elevate yourself above the competition. Consider the following:

• What can you give customers that they cannot get elsewhere?
• What can you do to follow-up and thank people, even when they don't buy?
• What can you give customers that is totally unexpected?

9. Get regular feedback.

Encourage and welcome suggestions about how you could improve. There are several ways in which you can find out what customers think and feel about your services.

• Listen carefully to what they say.
• Check back regularly to see how things are going.
• Provide a method that invites constructive criticism, comments and suggestions.

10. Treat employees well.

Employees are your internal customers and need a regular dose of appreciation. Thank them and find ways to let them know how important they are. Treat your employees with respect and chances are they will have a higher regard for customers. Appreciation originates at the top. Treating customers and employees well is equally important.

Written by Susan A. Friedmann, CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, working with exhibitors and meeting & event planners to improve their event success through coaching, consulting and training.

Website: www.thetradeshowcoach.com