Every person on earth will be given the role of a customer throughout his or her life. From early on all of us becomes acquainted with being served by others in the marketplace. We can go anywhere in the world and find ourselves ready to be the customer. Simply reflect on this past week and we will soon discover that each day is filled with various moments in the role as the customer.



As we reflect on the hundreds of experiences that we have played in the role as the customer, we will also discover that some people offer us a better customer service experience than others. What will will also discover is that service in America is typically average. There will be those memorable moments when we have been served and given an excellent customer service experience. But on average, the memories that we have had as a customer is uneventful and soon forgotten.

In order to offer an excellent service experience, the person responsible for serving must genuinely care about the customer. If a service representative is simple working for a paycheck and not serving from a sincere and caring heart, the service will more than likely be perceived as average and quickly forgotten. Here's an important point to remember:

"In order to offer five-star service, we must genuinely care about exceeding our customer's needs. Without this, the customer walks away and remembers the service as being average at best."

When we focus on wanting to make the overall customer experience as pleasant as possible, our customers will remember the service provided as outstanding. Our customers will also perceive our service in a positive light when they feel that we desired to make their experience as enjoyable as possible They will see that we had their best interest in mind. Let's now look at four ways to show our customers that we genuinely care about their experience.

1. Five-star service is being courteous

Being courteous to our customers should be a given for every customer service representative. It would seem only logical that anyone who is working out in front with customers would be hospitable. It only takes one employee to sink a business if he or she is consistently being inconsiderate to customers.

2. Five-star service is being urgent

The next key in providing excellent service is to show our customers that their needs demand a sense of urgency. By this I mean that we respect our customers by seeing their request as important and give them the positive impression that we will quickly take care of it. We need to consider each request as a pressing matter that should be taken care of in an efficient and professional manner.

3. Five-star service is from the heart

Customers ultimately measure the service by the memory of the experience. This is why it is important to project a caring attitude. When they sense that we care about their experience, they will automatically give the service higher ratings. Creating a successful service experience will only happen when we show that we care enough to give our best and treat them in a way that we would want to be treated if we were the customer.

4. Five-star service is building a strong team

The sky truly is the limit when an organization has a team that is passionate about creating great service. This is because each team member plays a key role in how well the service will be perceived. It is important to understand that every employee is a reflection of not only the organization, but also of each other. In order to provide five-star service, we must first start by creating a team that is excited to serve.

Great customer service creates a memorable experience that makes people want to come back time and again. They simply show each customer that they appreciate and are happy to have the opportunity to serve them. This simple secret will go a long way in making each customer feel important. Remember also that a lack of enthusiasm can give our customers a reason to not want to return.

Delivering five-star service happens when we enjoy serving others. By enjoying the process of helping others, we will make a major step in offering others a five-star experience. One of the best qualities found in organizations that offer excellent service is having a group of people who have caught the vision of the importance of treating others with respect. And when we truly enjoy serving, our profession becomes less of a job and more of an enjoyable experience for both our team and our customers.