How we relate to our coworkers, or internal customers, is just as important - if not more important - than how we interact with our external customers. There is a direct correlation between the work environment and customer satisfaction.
Just think about that for a minute.
We look forward to going to work when the people we work with are friendly and contribute to make work easier for us, right? This makes us happy, therefore, we relate to our customers in a friendly and helpful manner.
So, when we talk about customer service basics, the rules also apply to internal customers as well: 1. Smile at your coworkers
2. Greet your coworkers in the morning when you arrive to work and whenever you pass them in the hallway.
3. Determine your coworkers needs. Is the guy in the cubicle next to you up to his armpits in work? Offer to help him if you have free time. What about the salesperson who just received news of a death in the family? Offer to help in any way that you can.
4. Keep in contact with your coworkers. Check in on those you work with every so often. Invite them to lunch. If you work for a big company, why not make the effort to introduce yourself to one new person a day?
5. Thank your coworkers for their help - and mean it.
Larry Schuiski offers his own thoughts on the subject: The Voice of the (Internal) Customer
"We cannot treat our customers any better than the way we treat each other." --Robert Bacal
» Why No Cubicle Is Better from CustomersAreAlways
I remember the days of working in a cubicle. All I did was stare at a makeshift wall all day and take phone calls from customers. Although this may work for call centers - the walls block out the other... [Read More]
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