The Importance of Customer Service

Have you ever found yourself taking on additional responsibilities outside of your regular work duties? Or have you ever had to relax your normal operating procedures to meet a customer's request? If you have, you were performing one of the most important functions of any business or organization. You were providing exceptional customer service to either an internal or external customer of the business organization that you work for.

Administrative support professionals are often the closest people to the customer, regardless of the industry or business they work in. Your interactions are frequently the first ones customers have and the last ones to make an impression. Knowing this, it is critical that you understand exactly how your interaction with customers can shape your organization's reputation. Oftentimes, this will be the differentiator that determines whether your customers continue to utilize your products or services, or whether they seek out someone else.

Providing stellar customer service means that you exceed customers' expectations and explore solutions they had not considered. The benefits include customer loyalty, referrals to family and friends, increased brand awareness, higher sales, and finally, a positive workforce. Even in a business that is more publicly focused, such as education, the one I work in, the benefits are similar. Although our product is the educating of our students, when we provide exceptional customer service, both internally and externally, the bottom line will result in a superior learning experience for our students. They are our ultimate customers. So everything we do daily should always serve them.

As an administrative support professional, you are in a key position to provide exceptional customer service experiences for all those you interact with daily. These opportunities will often include both internal and external customers, including those you support, the general public, outside agencies, or anyone unique to your business. Capitalize on each of those interactions to create an experience that wows all those you encounter. It begins with knowing the importance of delighting your customers and being aware of how your approach impacts them.

April's Courses - 24 x 7 Virtual Training on LinkedIn Learning

Administrative Professional Weekly Tips

Being an administrative professional is a rewarding and challenging career. This series provides tips to help you stay focused, balanced, and in sync with your boss and become an invaluable asset to whatever company you work for.

Job Interview Tips for Administrative Assistants

In this course, instructor April Stallworth covers the most common questions that administrative assistants are asked in job interviews, and she offers tips for answering each question with specificity and confidence.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

September

September 14, 2023, Pacific Northwest Laboratory in Richland, WA

October

October 5-6, 2023, Executive Support Professionals Annual Conference, Camden, NJ. - Registration Link