Tips for Providing Good Internal Customer Service

Colleagues, superiors, and subordinates depend on you just as you depend on them so it is important to provide good customer service to them as you go through your work day. Some effective methods of providing good customer service to your internal customers include the following.

1. Thank them. Showing colleagues appreciation for their work lets them know how important they are to the company and to you.
2. Treat them with respect. Coworkers who are treated with respect will in turn treat customers with respect.
3. Create a work culture that encourages internal customer service. A work environment that rewards respectful, polite behavior and discourages rudeness and other unprofessional behavior will foster good customer service skills and behaviors.
4. Provide clear guidelines regarding roles and responsibilities. When employees know what is expected of them, they not only will perform better, but will also be more satisfied with their work environment. That satisfaction will translate into good customer service practices, both internally and externally.

Communication is key to providing excellent internal customer service. In a business environment in which individuals work together, agree on methods of doing business and cooperate rather than compete with each other to achieve common goals. Some of the benefits of creating an environment where internal customer service is practiced daily include:

1. Increased productivity.
2. Decreased costs.
3. Improved communication.
4. Higher employee morale.
5. Goals aligned among departments.
6. Better external customer service.