by Andrea Mueller

Created on: May 26, 2009   Last Updated: June 13, 2009

Have you ever been to an establishment and knew you would return because the customer service was great? On the flip side, have you ever visited an establishment and knew you would never return solely because of the poor customer service you experienced? This morning, like every morning, I was ordering my coffee at my favorite caf and I realized something that I had never really appreciated before. Every single employee in the caf was smiling, talking with the customers, and going about their duties in a happy manner. The store was clean and organized and the customers were all sipping their lattes happily. No one was asking to speak to a manager or complaining about their drink. Maybe the employees were happy because they were all caffeinated. Or, maybe they were all happy because the company they work for takes great care of them. This particular caf is known as one of the best places to work, providing decent wages, benefits to even part-time employees, and many other perks that the baristas enjoy. Even though it is very obvious how customer service can impact a company, many businesses do not put enough energy into their customer service departments. Customer service is by far one of the most important aspects of all successful businesses. Even companies that do not have direct contact with the public still need to maintain a record of impeccable customer service.

While it is true that some people are simply happy and friendly regardless of any situation they are in, it is also true that if a company does not make efforts to ensure the quality of life of their staff, their customers will eventually feel the impact of this neglect. A great company makes a great employee, not the other way around. Here are what I feel are the three most important ways that a business can ensure the highest level of customer service.

1. If an employee is content, their contentment will naturally be evident in the way they handle their job and your customers. Before you do anything else, you must first make sure that your employees are being taken care of. If you are not taking care of your employees, they will not take care of you or your customers, at least not in the way that will have a positive impact on your business. You can start by offering wages that will maintain a comfortable quality of life for your employees, offering benefits such as health and dental insurance and 401K, and paid time off.

2. This is perhaps one of the most important aspects

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