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Bryce WhittyGuest Post by Chris Kight. Chris is a preacher and a Computer Technician in Missouri.
This article will seem like nonsense to technicians that have been around for a while, but is mainly geared for newer techs.
Earning your client’s respect may not at first seem like an important aspect of the job. Why bother going out of your way to earn their respect when you’re only with them for a hour and you’ll probably never see them again, right? Wrong! Even if you WILL never see them again (a common misinterpretation of some new techs) you still need to offer them your respect to get respect in return.
One top reason why you will need to earn their respect:
They will appreciate you more. Clients that appreciate the tech will be less likely to complain about your prices, and will be more inclined to call you again for help. They will understand when you make a mistake and be in general in a better mood to ask you to help instead of someone else. They will be more considerate, and not try to call you at 1 in the morning, or press on about an appointment when you have an important computer technician dinner with the president.
How NOT to earn respect:
- By calling them stupid when they are talking about the tower and say that their ‘processor’ is messed up.
- By taking a personal phone call when working in their home
- By interrupting them every 30 seconds to text on your phone
- By checking your e-mail/doing personal things with their computer.
- By in any way wasting their time, energy, money, ext
- By exhibiting laziness, stupidness or any other act that someone would find troublesome.
Just keep one key thing in mind and you’ll be safe: treat them like you would expect to be treated!
I have seen techs do all of these things and more. A few years ago I was guilty of taking a personal phone calls, but these days the phone goes on silent and I call them back.
Great resources here. I cannot agree more that calls and text should be put on hold while working with a client….its the little things like that along with good, clear communications and respect that go a long way. You may never see that one client again but that person may refer you 10 times based on a positive experience. Every client should be treated as a gateway to more business.
This is a horribly written article.
>>”•By calling them stupid when they are talking about the tower and say that their ‘processor’ is messed up.”
>>”•By exhibiting laziness, retardation, stupidness, or any other act that someone would find troublesome.”
Seriously? You use “retardation” and “stupidness” in a sentence?
There are better ways to communicate these ideals without resorting to this kind of language. This kind of writing should be curbed (or edited) on this website, I see it often.
I find the term “retardation” to be offensive Bryce.
•By exhibiting laziness, retardation, stupidness, or any other act that someone would find troublesome. this whole sentence is pretty poor.
That’s all.
I agree with Eric and Bobby on that. There are always better ways to describe it.
I too find the word “retardation” to be offensive.
I don’t think that kind of language is appropriate for this site.
The single biggest thing you can do to garner respect from your clients is to deliver what you promise, on time, and on budget.
I’m not perfect by any means. But I’m continually amazed by the number of clients that have told me “You’re the first guy we’ve worked with who actually fixed something when he said he would, and charged us what he quoted.”
Bottom line: People respect people who know their stuff and keep their word.
Edited his post. Sorry for the offence fellas.
Terribly sorry for the offense, everyone. I certainly didn’t mean it and it won’t happen again.
et cetera —usually punctuated as : etc
“By in any way wasting their time, energy, money, ext”
My pet peeve, sorry.
And please people it’s not “ect”