Workplace Relationships(3)

•The Customer – Understand that any relation you have with the customer should not be a personal relationship but a relationship between the customer and you as a representative of your company.

•Understand that there are certain pieces of information that you cannot divulge to your customer without your superior’s approval

•Always aim to have a friendly and helpful attitude towards the customer to build a cordial relationship with the customer. This is almost universally easier to achieve when compare with colleagues or superiors because the customer is always coming forth, seeking your assistance. All you need to do is have the knowledge and the resourcefulness to provide a solution and they will leave happy

•The relationship with a customer can become strained due to circumstances out of your control, for example, if the customer was dealing with another team mate previously and has now been handed over to you or if the customer was promised something that you now realise cannot be delivered. In these situations it is best to seek some advice from your superior before proceeding. Several tactics can be employed over here to provide a workaround or an alternate solution but that involves selling it to give the customer the same sense of satisfaction that they would have received with the original solution that they wanted. This might take some skill but as always, if you apply yourself, you will be able to find a way. Remember, there is always something to be done next, your goal is to keep it moving. Letting issues stagnate are a sure fire way to ruin your relationship with the customer