How To Communicate Effectively With Customers

– The Value of Effective Articulation

You cannot control how well your customers communicate with you during a given interaction, but you can effectively control the way you speak during customer communications.

Speaking clearly and concisely is crucial during customer interactions. Articulation, enunciation, or pronunciation of words refers to the clarity of your word usage. If you tend to slur words (“Whadju say?” “I hafta go whitja”) or cut off endings (goin’, doin’, gettin’, bein’), you can distort the meaning or frustrate listeners. This is especially true when communicating with customers who do not speak English well and with customers who view speech ability as indicative of educational achievement or your ability to assist them effectively.

If you have a problem articulating well, practice by gripping a pencil horizontally between your teeth, reading sentences aloud, and forcing yourself to enunciate each word clearly. Over time, you will find that you slow down and form words more precisely.

Be alert to the manner in which you deliver information to your customers since good communication skills are so important to building strong customer relationships you should. To get more ideas on the importance of communicating effectively when interacting with your customers, get a copy of Customer Service Skills for Success.