public schools have customers too!!!
DESCRIPTION
Why do public schools need to practice good customer service? Several years ago public schools, were needed by all, and the public was grateful for them. Education was essentially product oriented. That’s no longer true. Many taxpayers now believe that the price for public education exceeds the value. Public schools have mistakenly relied on product-customer marketing versus customer-product marketing. Research shows that customer oriented strategies create strong customer relationships that will ensure customer loyalty.TRANSCRIPT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVECUSTOMERS TOO!!!
WHY IS THIS P. D. IMPORTANT?
Refresher course for our staffTo assist you in dealing with difficult peopleTo improve the district’s image with our customersTo help the district function more efficientlyKey to creating family-friendly schools
WHAT IS A CUSTOMER?
A customer is someone who brings us his or her needs and desires. It is our job to care for those needs and desires.
The customer is not an interruption of our work.
He or she is the purpose of our work. We are not doing customers a favor by offering education as a product for their consumption.
WHO ARE OUR CUSTOMERS?
InternalColleaguesBoard membersStudents
WHO ARE OUR CUSTOMERS?External
ParentsCommunity membersEmployees from other districtsStudentsVendors and people with whom we do business
SIX BASIC NEEDS OF SCHOOLCUSTOMERS
1. Friendliness2. Understanding and empathy3. Fairness4. Control5. Options and alternatives6. Information
THE ANGRY CUSTOMER
Customer feels ignoredCustomer was already upset by someone else Customer has a chip on their shoulderSomeone promised something that was not deliveredSomeone was rude to them Customer was transferred without consent or put on hold for a long time
Customer’s integrity or honesty was questionedSomeone argued with customerCustomer feels you don’t know what you are talking aboutCustomer acted on advice provided by someone…and it was wrong
Customer was told they had no right to be angry
WHAT DOES AN ANGRY CUSTOMERSREALLY WANT FROM US?
To be listened toTo be taken seriouslyTo be understoodTo be treated with respectQuick actionSomeone to be reprimanded or punishedAssurance the problem will not occur again
WHAT IS YOUR CONFLICTMANAGEMENT STYLE?
If you chose 'A' answers most often, your style is:
WHAT IS YOUR CONFLICTMANAGEMENT STYLE?
Avoidance
WHAT IS YOUR CONFLICTMANAGEMENT STYLE?
If you chose 'B' answers most often, your style is:
Analyzing
WHAT IS YOURCONFLICTMANAGEMENT STYLE?
If you chose ‘C’ answers most often, your style is:
Assertive
WHAT IS YOURCONFLICTMANAGEMENT STYLE?
If you chose 'D' answers most often, your style is:
Aggressive
FOUR BASIC STEPS TO DEFUSING ANANGRY CUSTOMER
Listen
Ask questions and summarize
Provide a solution and work together
Follow up
EFFECTIVE LISTENING
How do you do this?
LISTEN
LISTEN
LISTEN
TEN STEPS TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING
1. Face the speaker and maintain eye contact
2. Be attentive yet relaxed3. Keep an open mind4. Listen to the words and try to picture
what the speaker is saying5. Don't interrupt and don't impose
your “solutions”
TEN STEPS TO EFFECTIVE LISTENING
6. Wait for the speaker to pause to ask clarifying questions
7. Ask questions only to ensure understanding
8. Try to feel what the speaker is feeling9. Give the speaker regular feedbacks10. Pay attention to non-verbal cues
QUESTIONS TO USE TO DEFUSE THEANGRY CUSTOMER
Build RelationshipGather InformationClarify InformationIdentify InterestsProvide InformationProbe for SolutionsReframe Positions / Common GroundConfront and Initiate
RESPECTING THE CUSTOMER
Judge the content, not the deliveryLook beyond the anger at the real problem Take notes and don’t forget to summarizeStick to the facts, don’t put in editorial commentsOffer a solution, ask for the customer’s input
RESPECTING THE CUSTOMER
Follow up, complete the necessary paperworkFollow up by calling the person / department responsibleWhen the interaction is complete, apologize and thank the customer
DURING THE INCIDENT
Don’t TIP….(Take It Personally) Never dismiss a complaintGive your undivided attentionSpeak in a calm, reassuring voiceEstablish rapport by using the customer’s nameDon’t start a chain reaction
DURING THE INCIDENT
Practice patience and keep an open mindWhen responding to customers, don’t use jargon or language that intimidatesDon’t shift the blameDon’t make excusesVoiceToneBody Language
AFTER THE CUSTOMER LEAVES
TAKE A BREAK!Inform your supervisorLearn from the experienceWas there anything you could have done differently?
AFTER THE CUSTOMER LEAVES
Did you listen intently and not interrupt?Did you push the customer’s hot button?Could you have said something else to calm the customer?Follow up with the customer
CONCLUSION
It’s up to you. You can be the villain or the hero
Remember not to TIP (Take it Personally)
Share what you learned from the situation with co-workers
CONCLUSION
Handling upset customers is not the job that most of us want to do, but it’s an essential part of our jobs.
What it all boils down to is …What type of story do we want them to tell?…Because they will tell their story
TIPS FOR SCHOOL SECRETARIES
1. Be first to make contact
2. Minimize inconvenience to the customer
3. Be sure of your facts
4. If your not sure, don’t say it
5. Be honest
Ask yourself how you would like to be treated…
TIPS FOR SCHOOL SECRETARIES
6. Know their names
7. Ask for feedback
8. When you listen, make sure you hear
9. Be flexible
10. Say goodbye
Ask yourself how you would like to be treated…
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE,
GIVE THEM ONE OF YOURS!