Telephone Customer Service Dos and Don’ts for Call Center Agents (2024)

Call center agents are your company’s front line when it comes to customers and potential customers calling your business. The impression your agents make over the phone can greatly influence people’s impressions about your business. If they give the wrong impression, you could risk losing a long-time customer or discovering a horrible review online later.

Providing outstanding customer experiences does require understanding the proper telephone customer service dos and don’ts. Let’s look at a few of the more common ones all call center agents should be practicing every day:

  • Do greet the caller in a cheerful and inviting manner. Even upset callers will have a hard time staying mad when greeted in a pleasant manner.
  • Do use the caller’s name once you have obtained it. Addressing the caller by name puts the person at ease and makes it easier for him or her to open up.
  • Do listen to what your caller is saying. You need to find out why the caller has called and the only way to do this is to listen.

Telephone Customer Service Dos and Don’ts for Call Center Agents (2)

  • Do use exploratory questions to get to the heart of the matter. Sometimes callers may be vague about why they called, so you need to ask the right questions.
  • Do take responsibility for the call. It is important to do as much as you can or are allowed under your company’s policy and to work the call through until its end.

Do remember to smile. Smiling is infectious, and callers can tell when someone is smiling, even over the phone.

  • Don’t cut off callers when they are speaking. Cutting callers off is rude and can cause them to get upset.
  • Don’t be dishonest with the caller. Saying you will do something or promising something you know will not happen is bad business.
  • Don’t put callers on long holds. Be mindful when putting callers on hold and ask their permission ahead of time. Limit hold times and check periodically with the caller.

For help in ensuring your customers are treated with outstanding service whenever they call, please feel free to contact Personalized Communications at 1-800-606-9898 today!

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Telephone Customer Service Dos and Don’ts for Call Center Agents (2024)

FAQs

Telephone Customer Service Dos and Don’ts for Call Center Agents? ›

Don't interrupt the customer

What are do's and don'ts of customer service? ›

If you can't, help them and refer them to someone who can offer the right solution. Be truthful when dealing with customers. Don't say “This will only take a minute” if it will take longer than that to resolve the issue. If you promised the customer that you will follow up on their ticket, make sure you do.

What are 3 difficult things about working in a call center? ›

Working in call centers and contact centers is known to be notoriously difficult with exceptionally high staff turnover rates. On a daily basis, contact center agents deal with stressful situations, high call volumes, and very often, emotional and frustrated customers.

What is telephone etiquette in call center? ›

Proper phone etiquette is your use of greetings, word choice, tone of voice, active listening, greetings and general manners on the phone. A potential client's first impression of you is often over the phone, and how you communicate with them might decide whether you gain or lose them as a customer.

What are the 11 essential rules of phone etiquette? ›

The top 11 essential rules of business telephone etiquette are: answer a call within 3 rings, immediately introduce yourself, be polite, only use speakerphone when necessary, actively listen and take notes, use proper language, remain cheerful, ask before putting someone on hold or transferring a call, be honest if you ...

How do you deal with rude customers in a call center? ›

5 Strategies for Handling Rude Customers
  1. Stay Calm, Don't React. The first thing to do is to remain calm and not respond in kind. ...
  2. Don't Take It Personally. Why are some customers so rude? ...
  3. Listen and, If Appropriate, Apologize. Rude customers often need to vent their frustration. ...
  4. Stand Firm. ...
  5. Solve the Problem.

What are the 10 rules for customer service? ›

Top 10 Golden Rules of Customer Service
  • The Customer Comes First.
  • Listen Actively.
  • Communicate Clearly.
  • Show Empathy.
  • Be Responsive.
  • Go the Extra Mile.
  • Use Positive Language.
  • Train and Equip Your Team.
Jul 28, 2023

What are the biggest mistakes in customer service? ›

Common customer service mistakes
  1. Not actively listening to customers. ...
  2. Not training your customer support team often leading to customer service mistakes. ...
  3. Failing to deliver what you promised. ...
  4. Passing clients around from one agent to another many times. ...
  5. Lack of proactive customer support solutions.
Dec 21, 2023

What are the 5 most important things in customer service? ›

10 customer service skills for success
  • Empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand another person's emotions and perspective. ...
  • Problem solving. Being able to solve problems is key to customer service. ...
  • Communication. ...
  • Active listening. ...
  • Technical knowledge. ...
  • Patience. ...
  • Tenacity. ...
  • Adaptability.
Apr 3, 2024

What are the three C's in call center? ›

The three keys to customer experience success are consistency, consistency and consistency.

What are the 5 P's of telephone etiquette? ›

Always keep in mind that effective business telephone etiquette requires you to be: prepared, present, polite, patient, personable, professional, proactive.

What are the 3 P's of telephone etiquette? ›

These factors remain important no matter who is on the other end of the line, and you should ensure that anyone answering phones for your company keeps the three Ps at the forefront at all times: Promptness, Professionalism, and Politeness.

What are the golden rules of telephone handling? ›

Phone Etiquette
  • Answer the call within three rings.
  • Immediately introduce yourself.
  • Speak clearly.
  • Only use speakerphone when necessary.
  • Actively listen and take notes.
  • Use proper language.
  • Remain cheerful.
  • Ask before putting someone on hold or transferring a call.
Jul 23, 2020

How can I do well in a call center job? ›

8 Tips for Working in a Call Center
  1. Be human to your fellow humans.
  2. Personalize the customer experience.
  3. Actively listen to the conversation (and take notes).
  4. Take mental and physical breaks.
  5. Brush up on your FAQs.
  6. Get (and stay) organized.
  7. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
  8. Keep the day light and fun.
May 17, 2022

How do you stay positive in a call center? ›

Be a Good Role Model

When you come into work feeling and looking positive , excited, and engaged, your team will likely respond in kind. So start by being a good role model – your attitude and actions should set an example for everyone else to follow.

How can I do well in a call center? ›

The following customer service tips are deeply rooted in the principles of effective communication, empathy, and problem-solving and can dramatically improve your customer interactions.
  1. Engage in active listening. ...
  2. Highlight understanding. ...
  3. Be courteous. ...
  4. Call the customer by their name. ...
  5. Go the extra mile.
Jul 18, 2023

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