33: Customer-centricity series - When bad news avoidance meets conflict avoidance
Dec 16, 2019
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Exploring the clash between conflict avoidance and honesty in customer-centric interactions, emphasizing the importance of addressing bad news to attract and retain customers. Delving into strategies for deep customer understanding and confronting uncomfortable truths for better relationships. Highlighting the necessity of actively engaging with feedback for enhanced customer-centricity.
Being guided by the truth is crucial for effective communication and building trust with customers.
Encouraging deep inquiries with customers helps uncover hidden concerns and improve service quality.
Deep dives
Importance of Truth and Communication
Being guided by the truth instead of avoiding uncomfortable situations is highlighted as crucial for effective communication and building trust with customers. Customers are often conflict avoidant, leading them to silently walk away rather than expressing dissatisfaction. Service providers, labeled as bad news avoiders, also struggle to accept negative feedback, hindering opportunities to address issues and enhance customer loyalty.
Customer Feedback and Engagement
Encouraging deep inquiries and genuine conversations with customers is emphasized to uncover hidden concerns and improve service quality. By actively seeking feedback beyond superficial surveys, businesses can identify areas for enhancement and cater to customer needs effectively. Examples such as McKinsey's study on United Polaris airlines showcase the impact of listening to customers' unmet needs in refining services.
Addressing Bad News Avoidance
Overcoming the tendency to avoid bad news and defensive responses is crucial for customer-centric behavior. Service providers are advised to confront negative feedback openly, refrain from justifying issues with rationalizations, and focus on understanding and resolving customer concerns. By embracing customer truths and addressing feedback constructively, businesses can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
It is better to be hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie. We have to really probe to discover how customers are feeling about our products and services. In this final episode of the year, Carolyn explores how we can work against our tendency to avoid bad news in order to attract, retain and delight more customers.