help desk

7 Ways to Become More Compassionate

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One of the four traits of the customer service masters is compassion. People who have mastered the art of customer service are naturally compassionate, they have a profound awareness of other’s suffering combined with a desire to alleviate it. One of author Mitch Albom’s friends once described him as noticing people in pain and trying […]

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A Customer Service Reminder: We’re All Clueless Sometimes

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Customer service basics: It’s common in a group of IT folks to tell stories about some of the crazy things our end users do. I’ve certainly told my share of such stories, but I think we often forget that no one is an expert on everything. When our end users sometimes ask questions that seem stupid,

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Book Release: Hobnob with the Elite Geeks of Seattle

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

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Success in Marriage and the Help Desk: Some of the Same Human Relations Concepts Apply

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I spend a lot of time thinking about human relationships. After all, I write books and blogs on human relations, I teach human relations workshops and seminars for IT people, and it’s generally a big part of my life. I think a lot about how we get along, how we don’t get along, what makes

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How to Talk to a CEO; Professional Communication Skills for the Helpdesk

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I recently spoke with a client who is concerned about how some of his staff members speak to CEOs. He owns an IT consulting firm with a variety of clients and is worried about his consultants’ communication skills. His consultants are required to interact with various individuals both on the phone and at client locations. He is concerned that some of the consultants’ language choices are inappropriate for dealing with clients, especially when the client in question is a C-level executive.

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What Can IT Customer Care Learn from a Country Music Hall of Famer?

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Ernest Tubb is a well-known name to anyone familiar with country music stars of the 1930s through the 1980s. During his recording and performing career, he achieved many milestones including headlining the first Grand Ole Opry performance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall along with a long string of hit records including Waltz Across Texas, Thanks a Lot, and Walking the Floor Over You.

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How to Avoid the Wrath of a Grammando: Why is Grammar Important?

There are grammar Nazis in our midst. I don’t think of myself as such, but there are a few spelling and grammar errors that make my skin crawl. There are others out there like me. When you’re providing customer service or technical support, when you’re applying for a job, doing business, or otherwise working with someone who shares my distaste for such grievous infractions as spelling your when you mean you’re, this simple guide may help keep your reputation intact. (Oh, that was a seriously long run-on sentence!) For many people, proper spelling and grammar is not an issue. For the people to whom it matters, it really matters. By simply being aware, it’s not hard to do it right.

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