183. Turn Your Field Staff Into Customer Service Pros - Mark Matteson
Oct 23, 2024
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Mark Matteson, a personal development speaker and bestselling author who transitioned from HVAC technician to customer service expert, shares invaluable insights. He emphasizes the crucial role of frontline workers and the impact of effective communication on client relationships. Mark discusses upselling techniques and the importance of empathy in customer interactions. Additionally, he highlights strategies for motivating staff beyond monetary rewards and addresses common fears faced by business owners, offering practical advice for success.
Frontline workers' soft skills in customer service, such as rapport-building and active listening, are essential for enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The development of a customer service excellence curriculum highlights the industry's need for improved communication and empathy among technicians for effective client interactions.
Recognizing and appreciating technicians' efforts, rather than relying solely on monetary incentives, is crucial for elevating their commitment to exceptional customer service.
Deep dives
The Importance of Soft Skills in Contracting
Frontline workers, such as technicians and laborers, play a crucial role in determining customer satisfaction and a company's reputation. Their soft skills in customer service can deeply impact client relationships, as they are often the first point of contact for customers. Skills in building rapport, handling complaints, and upselling services are essential for these workers to elevate the customer experience. Empowering and training the team in these areas can lead to improved customer retention and increased revenue for the business.
Developing Customer Service Excellence Curriculum
The development of a customer service excellence curriculum stemmed from a pressing need identified by large contractors, highlighting the significance of soft skills in the industry. This curriculum aims to enhance technicians' abilities in communication, empathy, and active listening to effectively address customer needs. Training programs include practical elements, such as role-playing and real-world scenarios, to illustrate effective customer interactions. By addressing these soft skills, companies can transform technicians into valuable assets who enhance customer satisfaction.
Techniques for Dealing with Angry Customers
When faced with an angry customer, employing a framework such as active listening, empathizing with their feelings, and paraphrasing their concerns can be incredibly effective for technicians. A structured approach encourages technicians to listen first before responding, allowing them to understand the true issue at hand. Techniques like pausing for a few moments after the customer speaks can help de-escalate the situation, as it demonstrates attentiveness and respect for their feelings. A simple yet powerful follow-up question, such as 'What would you like us to do?', often reveals that most customers simply desire acknowledgment and a resolution.
Building Rapport and Trust with Clients
Establishing a strong rapport with clients is vital in the contracting industry and can be achieved through simple techniques. Techniques such as giving genuine compliments, asking engaging questions, and creating relatable conversations help in building trust. Ensuring clarity during project explanations further solidifies the relationship, preparing clients for what to expect. Ultimately, effective communication fosters deeper connections and can lead to increased referrals and repeat business.
Motivating Teams for Exceptional Customer Service
Motivating technicians to excel in customer service often requires understanding their intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Recognition and appreciation have proven to be more effective than monetary incentives alone, with many technicians valuing acknowledgment for their hard work. Encouraging technicians to share their success stories and providing opportunities for personal growth can enhance their commitment to customer service excellence. By fostering a culture of appreciation and engagement, businesses can drive meaningful change and improve overall customer satisfaction.
Here’s a question you’ve probably pondered before.
Do your technicians, laborers, and field staff excel at customer service?
Do they know how to build rapport? De-escalate an angry customer? Can they upsell and bring in more revenue for the company?
The fact is, whether you like it or not, your reputation, and the success of your business, depends on the people you have out on the front lines.
Our guest on the show today is Mark Matteson. He’s a personal development speaker and author of 6 books, including his best-seller Freedom From Fear.
Before the big stages, though, Mark spent the first half of his career in the field as an HVAC tech and salesperson. He translated those formative years into a customer service excellence curriculum he teaches to many of the biggest HVAC companies on the continent.
And today he’s going to teach us how to get our whole team aligned around providing exceptional customer service at every stage of the buyer journey.
Episode Highlights:
Hear from Mark Matteson, HVAC tech and sales rep turned personal development speaker and best-selling author of Freedom From Fear, about the importance of embedding customer service excellence into every part of your business.
Get a walkthrough of the customer service excellence curriculum Mark teaches to many of the biggest HVAC companies in North America.
Learn how to recognize and let go of the fears holding you back in business and in life.