Have you ever been excited to finally get to make an anticipated purchase only to be met by a sales clerk who didn’t exactly share your enthusiasm? You know the type. They are the ones who mark off the days on the wall calendar behind their desk. We all have experienced this joyous soul!
You had the vision. You had the funding. You’d hired a babysitter. You had high hopes that this was going to be a special day – if only you had found a sales professional to make it special for you. Do you remember how disappointing this was? I hope so!
If you want to be a great sales professional, you must first learn to be a great customer. Observe constantly how you, and those around you, are treated when seeking service. Watch how a service provider’s attitude affects the customer’s behavior. Pay attention to how promptly you are greeted. Did the service provider seem genuinely interested in your satisfaction with your purchase, or merely its proceeds? How do you feel when a clerk pre-judges your ability to buy something nice? Were they professional in both appearance and behavior?
Always remember that what you seek in those serving you is exactly what customers hope to find in your presence. Many days the best customer service lessons to be learned occur when it’s you who are the customer.
Tom Jennings
