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Turning Around Complaints

By 29 July 2014 July 19th, 2021 No Comments

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Let them rant
Don’t interrupt, don’t glower, and don’t judge however wrong or rude they are. Instead, memorise every detail of their grievance, encourage them with open body language, a neutral expression and lot’s of “I’m interested” noises.

Say sorry
If you’re in the wrong (you’ve overcharged them). Apologise personally and sincerely. If you don’t feel responsible (their ever shifting priorities made delivering on time impossible), apologise for the situation. Now is the time to save your sinking client relationship, not to save face.

Ask meaningful questions
They’ll help you clarify what went wrong and show you’re serious about finding a solution. Summarise their complaint back to them.

Be honest
Think carefully about what you can and can’t deliver. A realistic solution is better than a broken promise.

Empathise
Identify with their complaint on an emotional level as well (“I know how frustrating this must be for you”). Once they see you as a fellow human, they’ll be more willing to cooperate.

Don’t pass them on
They may not have been your problem originally but they are now. Tell them exactly what steps you will take personally to resolve their issue and by when.

Join forces
Instead of contradicting the complainer with defensive language (“No, but”), be positive. Start each of your responses with “yes, and …” and watch cooperation conquer.

Stay calm
Count to five before speaking, draft and redraft and, before you hit send, breathe. One angry person is quite enough.

Delve deeper
Don’t be tempted by quick fixes (discount their next order and move on). Most complaints are products of a more serious problem (eg, an inefficient delivery pipeline). Keep digging until you find the root of the complaint, then tackle it.

Be thankful
Complaints are opportunities to improve, innovate and win over clients for life. They’re just in disguise.