NRCC News

NRCC offers six-part customer service series

Aug 30 2016

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This article was published on Aug 30 2016 and was archived on Aug 31 2017. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.

A new six-part seminar series that will help participants create positive, lasting impressions in customer's minds will be held in the coming weeks, sponsored by New River Community College's Office of Workforce Development.

NRCC's new customer service series, "Customers Expect…," will allow learners to better appreciate customer successes and contribute to a customer-first culture in which customer care replaces traditional service. Each session will encourage participants to develop practical skill sets that impact both external and internal customers, or co-workers who serve as teammates.

The seminars, led by Dr. Robert Kenney, will be held on Fridays at NRCC's New River Valley Mall site in Christiansburg from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration is currently in progress for the sessions (http://bit.ly/NRCCcustomerservice). Each session is $95, or the entire series is $485.

The series schedule follows: Customers Expect a Winning Attitude: Friday, September 9, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mall 142 (Class #1621)Exceptional customer service starts with a customer-first attitude that tunes out the negative influences sometimes clouding today's workforce. Participants will develop a better understanding of how personal assumptions can get in the way when treating customers with respect by considering new habits to replace outdated behaviors and identifying ways of staying positive in a negative environment. Also, necessary ingredients to develop and maintain a positive attitude will be defined.

Customers Expect Exceptional Communication: Friday, September 16, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mall 142 (Class #1622)Exceptional customer service requires a practical link between exceptional communication and quality service. Practicing a 6-step process for effective communication, participants will identify how to manage customers' first impressions and avoid common verbal and nonverbal mistakes, including conversations, telephone etiquette and email guidelines. Customers Expect Constructive Resolutions: Dealing with Upset Customers: Friday, September 23, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mall 142 (Class #1623)Exceptional customer service requires having difficult conversations with upset customers and with people who seem to have conflicting priorities. Typical causes of customer conflict will be identified by using assessments to identify five ways they and others react to conflict and will provide strategies for diffusing customer anger and for controlling seminar participants' personal emotions during conflict.

Customers Expect Follow-Through & Follow-Up: Friday, September 30, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mall 142 (Class #1624)Exceptional customer care requires constant customer feedback. This session will define the difference between customer service and customer care. Learners will develop skills for follow-through and follow-up. Different ways of staying in touch with customers after interactions will be covered by soliciting customers' opinions, opening lines of communication, soliciting customer feedback to be sure customer needs were met and to help customers see the continued value of our products and services.

Customers Expect 2-Way Loyalty & Trust: Friday, October 7, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mall 142 (Class #1625)Exceptional customer care requires a true connection customers can see and sense in every interaction with your organization. Participants will plan how to build loyal partnerships with their customers, communicate gratitude to customers and make customers feel valued.

Customers Expect a Caring Culture: Getting Your Team's Buy-In: Friday, November 4, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Mall 142 (Class #1626)Exceptional customer care requires a team culture that stands behind the customer-friendly behaviors of every individual inside your team. Customers should experience high performance standards, no matter with whom they interact. Participants will use critical change management strategies and build plans to help convince thei