Dealing With Unhappy Customers Video

No matter how professional and efficient your organization is, you'll have to deal with the occasional unhappy, difficult or angry customer.

In the heat of the moment, it can be a struggle to keep calm and find the right words. But, by following these seven steps, it is possible to restore your client's goodwill and keep his or her custom.

First, put yourself in a customer service mindset. Take on board that your client is upset and give them your full attention.

Second, listen actively   to your client's grievance. If necessary, prompt them with a neutral phrase such as, "Let's go over what happened." Don't plan your response or try to resolve issues while they're talking. Simply listening is a powerful way of showing you care.

Next, calmly repeat their concerns back to them. This demonstrates you were listening carefully and it clarifies the problem.

Now that you understand why they're unhappy, apologize clearly   and empathize with them.

By step five, you may be able to present a solution that you're confident will make your customer happy. If you're not sure how they'll respond, or if they resist your proposal, ask them what would make them happy.

Once you've agreed a solution, it's important that you take immediate action and follow up. Explain exactly what you're going to do, do it, then contact your client again.

Finally, use their grievance as a learning opportunity. Minimize the risk of the issue arising again by finding the root cause   and fixing it.

For more information about Dealing With Unhappy Customers, see the article   that accompanies this video.