Gandhi’s Customer Service Techniques

We all say we that we know how important customer service is to having a successful business, but do we really? Now you may have heard of Mahatma Gandhi who was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement at the start of the twentieth century.

Gandhi wasn’t really known as a business man, more of a philosophical man trying to make a difference in the world. However his business views were spot-on to creating a successful company, and he would have been a fantastic business owner. Mahatma Gandhi quoted once that “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.”

The way that Gandhi phrases each key line is so precise an eminent. If you want to own a successful business then perhaps you should learn your customer service techniques from Gandhi.

1. Your customers are the most important visitors on your premises. They are not dependent on you, so don’t treat them in that manner, treat them like a king or queen walking into the room, and you are the jester – there to meet there every reasonable demand until they are satisfied.

2. You customers are the purpose of your work. Companies that have great customer service understand that without customers, they are without a job. Customer service and satisfaction is the only way to have a profitable company, so understand that they are the reason your company exists.

3. Your customers are a part of your business. They are not outsiders to the business. In fact they know how you should run your business better than you do. Using online customer survey software is a great way to know what your customers think about your business and how to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.

4. You have been given a favor from your customers, by being able to serve them. If you don’t think of your customers as the reason for your business’ existence, then how do you expect to keep your customers and run a successful business? You cannot do it. They are a blessing to you – not the other way around.

Mahatma Gandhi knew and understood the very best customer service techniques. He was able to discern the qualities that make a business have outstanding customer service, and the thoughts that can lead a business to failure through the lack of knowledge. If you want to obtain the kind of customer service that will allow your company to flourish, study some of Gandhi’s customer service techniques and put them into practice.