×
×

Request Information About Customer Service Training for Your I.T. Staff

×
Subscribe to the Compassionate Geek Newsletter today!

CALL: (206) 988-5858

a blog by Don R. Crawley

Keynote Speaker on
IT Customer Service and Compassion

Bringing humanity into the world of technology

CALL: (206) 988-5858

Book Don
Subscribe

September 2015  Articles

customer empathy

How to Deliver Great Customer Service: What’s Your Customer Empathy Quotient?

By  |  September 5, 2012 10:39 am

How’s your empathy quotient? Your ability to empathize may be your most important ability as a member of the I.T. support staff. Empathy means providing caring and personal service. Dictionary.com defines empathy as “the intellectual identification with … the feelings, thoughts or attitudes of another.” Empathy is your ability to truly put yourself in your user’s position so you can understand his/her frustration. Once we truly understand our user’s frustration, fears, and aggravations, we can start the process of delivering a meaningful solution for them. Sometimes it only takes a moment to really understand where our user is coming from. Sometimes it takes several minutes of listening combined with empathetic statements such as “I understand why you feel that way.” or “I’d feel that way, too, if I were in your situation.” Regardless, until you can empathize with your user, you’re not ready to start the technical aspects of the support session. Remember, it may be your technical expertise that solves the problem, but it’s your skill in dealing with people that produces satisfied end-users.

READ ARTICLE

Three Examples of Great Customer Service

By  |  September 6, 2012 9:32 pm

I recently flew from Houston to Seattle on Alaska Airlines. I experienced three examples of good customer service from, gasp, an airline. Yes, I know it may seem hard to believe. There are lessons here for those of us who support end-users. Two examples were with Alaska Airlines and one was with Delta. Here they are.

READ ARTICLE

IT Customer Service Book

There’s a new Compassionate Geek coming soon, very soon

By  |  September 17, 2013 5:20 pm

I’m very excited to announce the upcoming release of a major update to The Compassionate Geek. I’ve added a lot of new material, including reflection and discussion exercises at the end of chapter and more human stories about overcoming difficulty through perspective, tenacity, and strength of will. It’s scheduled for release on November 1 and …

READ ARTICLE

IT Customer Service Book

Hobnob with the Elite Geeks of Seattle

By  |  September 19, 2013 11:11 pm

I’m really excited! The book release party for the new edition of The Compassionate Geek is going to be at Lucid Lounge in the University District. This is the same Lucid Lounge that is host to Nerd Nites and frequent author readings (and they have fabulous cocktails, too). I can’t think of a better place …

READ ARTICLE

Being arrogant and conceited can kill your career.

Is Arrogance Killing Your Career?

By  |  September 10, 2014 9:49 am

Some people in the IT industry have a reputation for being arrogant and difficult to work with. Arrogance is the belief that you’re better than other people and it leads to cynicism and condescending behavior. Arrogance can undermine relationships and even lead to job loss. I was leading a customer service seminar at a large …

READ ARTICLE

careers jobs competency

The IT Competency and Charisma IT Career Success Model

By  |  September 17, 2014 8:06 am

For success in a career in IT, as we’ve discussed in other blog posts, podcasts, and videos, two separate and distinct skill sets are required. Obviously, you must have outstanding technical skills, especially related to the product(s) you support. For the purpose of this discussion, we’ll refer to that as your competence. Additionally, you must …

READ ARTICLE

saying "no" to a customer

How to Say “No” Without Alienating the Customer

By  |  September 24, 2014 6:30 am

At one point in a past business relationship, I had to say no to my customer. I had committed to the customer to present a training seminar without realizing the true nature of the training the customer wanted. When I realized what they really wanted, I realized that it was beyond my competency, so I …

READ ARTICLE

Search by Tags/topics: