How to Motivate Your Customer Service Staff this Summer
It can be hard to keep your customer service staff motivated during those crazy, lazy days of summer, especially if your employees have vacations on their mind rather than customer service. Here are some simple, fun ways to keep your staff motivated this summer.
Bring in food
Food can be a big motivator when it comes to job performance, especially if it’s fun food! If it’s in your budget, bring in lunch for your customer service staff. If you need to keep things inexpensive, suggest a potluck and have every employee bring a dish. Sharing food in this way can also help your staff bond, making your team stronger.
Switch places with them
Choose a few hours one day during the week and have the supervisors and managers take over the job of customer service while your customer service reps have a go at being in charge. This can be a fun way to see if any reps are ready for more responsibility and it’s a great way for you to see exactly what they’re experiencing on a day-to-day basis. This can bolster morale for those reps who may want to move up to the next level in their careers, but who aren’t sure if the job is for them.
Give prizes for great service
If you have goals for your customer service employees, give them prizes, too. Friendly customer service competitions can be a great way to motivate your staff. Give gift cards, physical prizes, or even a few hours of paid time off to each employee who meets a specific goal. Challenges you could set might be to get x number of positive reviews from customers, answer x number of calls in one day, or sell x number of products to customers who call for assistance.
Say Û÷thank you’
Don’t forget the simplest way to motivate your employees is to make them feel appreciated. Don’t just assume they know you appreciate them; tell your staff that you appreciate them with a handwritten note or card for each employee. This personal touch will help your staff feel appreciated, which will motivate them to try even harder to please.