C.U.S. technique

CUS is an acronym that stands for:

I’m concerned….

I feel uncomfortable…

I feel scared….

It originated as a technique for staff to use with physicians as a way to

express their level of disagreement or discomfort with an action or inaction affecting patient safety.  


Try using it in your business or organization - it can work anywhere:

“Tell me what concerns do you have about this new phone?

“I want you to be comfortable as possible, tell me is there anything about the phone that makes you uncomfortable?”

“I want to do all I can to ease your mind.  Is there anything that is making you feel anxious about this purchase – please tell me?

www.retainloyalcustomers.com

 Teri Yanovitch is a leading speaker, trainer and consultant on creating a culture of customer service within  an organization.  Her firm T.A.Yanovitch, Inc. provides a clear and proven process on how to create this culture of service and helps guide organizations to ensure their success.  Through her presentations, workshops  and training, Teri has assisted organizations from all industries to differentiate their business through the competitive edge of the customer experience.

Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com

Her highly acclaimed book Unleashing Excellence – The Complete Guide to “ Ultimate Customer Service” has sold over 32,000 books and is recognized as a practical, hands-on approach to providing a seamless extraordinary service experience to retain customers and employees.  Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com for your next speaking engagement or for a copy of her book.  

Put Your Best Hand Forward - Teri's Tip #46

Sometimes great customer service begins with a handshake. Here’s how to make the best impression:



1. Extend your right hand out and shake your customer’s hand firmly. Don’t entwine your fingers, shake their palm with fingers closed. Be careful not to squeeze too hard or too soft. Too hard and it looks like you are trying to be dominant, too weak and you appear wimpy.


2. Give eye contact and smile as you shake your customer’s hand.


3. After a couple of shakes, let their hand go as you begin your conversation.

At the end of your conversation, you may shake their hand again while telling them what a pleasure it was to meet them. If it has been a particularly engaging conversation and you believe they have thought so too, you may put your left hand on top of their hand briefly while shaking.  This expresses a warmer relationship and you look forward to meeting or talking with them again.

http://www.retainloyalcustomers.com/
Teri Yanovitch is a leading speaker, trainer and consultant on creating a culture of customer service within an organization. Her firm T.A.Yanovitch, Inc. provides a clear and proven process on how to create this culture of service and helps guide organizations to ensure their success. Through her presentations, workshops and training, Teri has assisted organizations from all industries to differentiate their business through the competitive edge of the customer experience.


Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com

Her highly acclaimed book Unleashing Excellence – The Complete Guide to “ Ultimate Customer Service” has sold over 32,000 books and is recognized as a practical, hands-on approach to providing a seamless extraordinary service experience to retain customers and employees. Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com for your next speaking engagement or for a copy of her book.

Lens of the Customer - Teri's Tip #40

Looking through the lens of the customer makes the customer feel they are being watched out for and important.  Its very simple to do - two steps:
1.  Read the emotion
2.  Meet the need

Last week at a Magic basketball game, my husband and I entered the huge entry area with lights flashing, escalators going in all directions, music blaring and were immediately overwhemed by it all.  A staff member obviously read our faces and approached us first by saying:  "Are you looking for your seats?"  Obviously, she had been trained to read emotions and be the first to respond whether than waiting for us to have to walk up to her and ask "where are our seats?"

It's a small detail, but a big one if done consistently.

http://www.retainloyalcustomers.com/
Teri Yanovitch is a leading speaker, trainer and consultant on creating a culture of customer service within an organization. Her firm T.A.Yanovitch, Inc. provides a clear and proven process on how to create this culture of service and helps guide organizations to ensure their success. Through her presentations, workshops and training, Teri has assisted organizations from all industries to differentiate their business through the competitive edge of the customer experience.


Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com

Her highly acclaimed book Unleashing Excellence – The Complete Guide to “ Ultimate Customer Service” has sold over 32,000 books and is recognized as a practical, hands-on approach to providing a seamless extraordinary service experience to retain customers and employees. Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com for your next speaking engagement or for a copy of her book.

6 Steps to Delivering Bad News - Teri's Tip #35

Delivering bad news is not pleasant or fun, but there are times when it must be done.  Here are six steps to follow when the situation requires you to be the bearer of bad news:


1.  Apologize for the situation and be sincere.
2.  Give a brief synopsis of the situation and then stop talking.
3.  Let the customer vent, while you actively listen.
4.  Ask the customer if they are ready to hear their options for the future.  (they may want others involved, they may want to process the bad news further, they may not be prepared to think of next actions and so you would be wasting their time and others at this point)
5. Explain options or alternatives, give advice if requested.
6. Apologize again and offer reassurances of the future if appropriate.

Applying good communication skills and being courteous will always pave the way for delivering bad news.

http://www.retainloyalcustomers.com/
Teri Yanovitch is a leading speaker, trainer and consultant on creating a culture of customer service within an organization. Her firm T.A.Yanovitch, Inc. provides a clear and proven process on how to create this culture of service and helps guide organizations to ensure their success. Through her presentations, workshops and training, Teri has assisted organizations from all industries to differentiate their business through the competitive edge of the customer experience.


Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com

Her highly acclaimed book Unleashing Excellence – The Complete Guide to “ Ultimate Customer Service” has sold over 32,000 books and is recognized as a practical, hands-on approach to providing a seamless extraordinary service experience to retain customers and employees. Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com for your next speaking engagement or for a copy of her book.

HOW to WOW - Teri's Tip #30

What does it take to Wow a customer?  In addition, of course, to giving them what you promised, it takes two things:
1.  Treat each customer as an individual
2.  Pay attention to the details 

By treating each customer individually, it shows you notice and care about them. Actively listening and looking through their lens helps you to deliver the WOW service your competition doesn't. They are not just another number or transaction to your business.  By paying attention to the details, you can find a way to exceed their expectations.  For example just this week, a Rollins College IT employee paid attention to the details of my laptop problem when I was instructing a workshop.  Not only did he tell me what was wrong with my laptop, but also took the time to find the phone number of the computer manufacturer so I wouldn't have to look it up.  Small detail, but much appreciated for the time it saved me in tracking that piece of information! 

http://www.retainloyalcustomers.com/
Teri Yanovitch is a leading speaker, trainer and consultant on creating a culture of customer service within an organization. Her firm T.A.Yanovitch, Inc. provides a clear and proven process on how to create this culture of service and helps guide organizations to ensure their success. Through her presentations, workshops and training, Teri has assisted organizations from all industries to differentiate their business through the competitive edge of the customer experience.


Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com

Her highly acclaimed book Unleashing Excellence – The Complete Guide to “ Ultimate Customer Service” has sold over 32,000 books and is recognized as a practical, hands-on approach to providing a seamless extraordinary service experience to retain customers and employees. Contact Teri at ty@retainloyalcustomers.com for your next speaking engagement or for a copy of her book.

Teri's Tip #9

If you want to retain and expand your customer base, it is key to stay truly customer focused.
Three things you can do: 
1.  Be proactive
2.  Surprise with a little added value*
3.  Put yourself in their shoes

*Adding value does not necessarily mean giving something away that costs you money.  It could be as simple as remembering their name, sharing a piece of advice, thanking them for their business.

http://www.retainloyalcustomers.com/

Teri's Tip #8

There's nothing more genuine than actively listening to your customer.  It is the highest form of recognition you can give another human being.

Three simple steps to Actively Listen:
1.  Focus on the customer
2.  Acknowledge
3.  Paraphrase back in your own words


http://www.retainloyalcustomers.com/