Telephone Skills
How an organisation handles phone calls can have a direct impact in their success, therefore, even outside call centres, it is essential to have good call handling skills.
Since telephone contact is often the first means of communicating with your customers, this experience must create an outstanding first impression. Over time, many of your clients or business connections may predominantly experience your company over the phone. Because of this, it’s important that everyone who may answer the phone knows the correct rules and protocols to represent your business in the best way.
Communication and conflict management skills can also help you to retain business and reduce the number of matters which may escalate to management.
Communication skills are crucial for people at all levels making and answering calls for their organisation. Understanding your customer’s needs, having an awareness of different personalities and how to handle conflict situations are all essential when ensuring the best customer experience.
What’s included in this course?
• What is excellent customer care and why do we need it?
• Who are our customers?
• What’s in it for you?
• Understanding ownership of calls
• Projecting a Professional and Competent Image
• Answering the Phone – The basics for inbound and outbound calls
• Communicate effectively in all situations
• Verbal communication and excellent customer service
• Understanding Different Personalities
• What is your personal style? – a self-assessment
• Recognising other’s styles over the phone
•. Communicating with other styles
• Understanding Customer Needs
• Effective listening for customer satisfaction
• Questioning techniques and probing
• Summarising the conversation
• Handling Complaints
• Ownership of complaints and problems
• Working with your customers, not against them
• Simple methods of dealing with complaints
• Tough Customers
• Staying cool under pressure – dealing with your own emotions
• Dealing with others’ emotions
• Seeking a win:win resolution