How to Handle the Angry Customer

Have you ever encountered an angry customer andDon't respond in the same tone that the customer
you had no idea where that anger came from? Manyuses. Don't yell or be rude. Be an actor and use a
times the customers' anger did not start with you.calm even voice. Yelling back will only fuel the anger
People often accumulate anger. For example, theirand give him a reason to make a personal attack on
day got off to a bad start when their alarm clockyou. Never tell him to calm down. This will only make
didn't go off, or they ran into a traffic jam and theyhim more upset because it gives him the feeling that
were late for work and had to face an irascible boss.you are discounting what he is saying.
They may even have been fired. By the time they3). Diffuse the situation and commit to solving the
speak to you they may have accumulated anproblem.
extremely high level of anger, and now they directThe key to diffusing the situation is agreeing with the
that anger towards you. What do you do when thatcustomer. Play the role of an actor, and remove your
happens? How do you deal with an angry customer?personal feeling. Calmly agree and then give him a
The best way to deal with the customer is to thinkspecific set of actions that you will take to
of yourself as a performer. Become an actor andeffectively solve the problem. In most cases this
remove your emotions from the equation. Then useworks.
the following principles to deal with the anger, solve4). End with a statement of gratitude.
the problem and turn the anger into customerAgain, being the actor, thank him for having been
satisfaction, and the customer into a calm and loyalyour customer and for allowing you to fix the
customer:problem.
1). Understand that the customer is not angry withTherefore, the next time you meet an angry
you.customer, become an actor, remove your feeling
Most of the time, the anger is an accumulated anger.from the situation, be calm and concentrate on
Therefore, don't take his words personally. He justdiffusing the problem. You can turn the customers'
wants to be listened to. He wants empathy andbad experience into a positive one and turn an angry
understanding.customer into a happy customer who will speak
2). Respond in a calm and even voicehighly of you to others.