Customer Service. A labor of love. By Jennifer Richards 4­13­15 Tools for giving good customer service: Sincerity. Understanding. Putting yourself in others shoes. Responsibility; (you are not on this planet alone.) Compassion. One on one is most effective. Caregiving attitude. Smile over the phone. Listen. Sympathize. Be kind. Treat everyone as important, whether the relationship is for a few moments or a lifetime. I'm not talking about needing to be fully invested in everyone's life that you meet, but for a few moments or minutes at a time, to touch people's lives that you come into contact with, in a positive way, that leaves them feeling better than before they met you. Even if the encounter is brief, it can have a lasting effect. The art of listening is key. Notice their tone and mood. "Be kind, please rewind." Remember that simple reminder to be courteous? Southern hospitality, yes its real. It's a good example of a courteous way of life. Learn about it. When you decide to work in customer service, what's your motivation? Money? Do you like people? Do you want to climb the ladder? Do you prefer selfless service? Are you simply interested in helping your fellow man? There's nothing wrong with any of these things. Money makes the world go around financially and we certainly need it to live. Climbing the ladder most definitely has its place, to shape people into leaders and followers. (Nothing wrong with being either one by the way as we need both to be successful). Selfless service for your fellow man are ideal traits in customer service oriented individuals and those who embrace this lifestyle are already well suited to this type of work. Even if you are not geared toward serving others, keep in mind that personal interaction is required through almost all professional walks of life. People are everywhere and developing good customer service skills may not come naturally to you, but they can be developed. If you really have trouble helping others, keep it simple. Use the golden rule. Treat others how you want to be treated. Everyone is somebody's mother, sister, brother, daughter, father or son. Everyone is going through something. Treat others with a basic sense of respect and polite courtesy. The more you practice, the easier it will become. You may find yourself enjoying the conversations and interactions with others as a result. Just by putting a few of these simple tools into practice, you may change the way you view the service industry and positively impact the way you serve others. Enjoy the journey.