5 Tips for Pleasing Your Customers

By Dimitrios Shistohilis

§ Teach employees to answer the phone with smiles on their faces. Phone experts say that customers will hear the smile in the employees’ voices.

§ Hire people who love people.

§ Require that employees speak clearly and slowly enough to be understood—especially on the phone. Nothing turns off customers more quickly than impatient, sullen, or indifferent employees.

§ Make sure employees have a thorough understanding of your products and services so they can answer customer questions.

§ Give employees leeway to meet customer needs. Does a vegetarian in your restaurant want a meatless meal? Be sure waiters know they can make substitutions.