Chief Customer Service Officer

If you’ve been thinking about starting your own company after years of working in one department at a time, the following thought may cross your mind: How can I possibly do all the work of a solopreneur without becoming overwhelmed?

The question is absolutely valid. Starting something new brings a sense of excitement but it can also bring fears caused by a sense of overwhelm. But bucketing your thoughts and actions into roles you are already familiar with, will help.

Although you may be in the beginning stages of your business and not have paying customers yet, let’s look at Customer Service first.

Customer Service

In terms of Customer Service, what specific goals have you thought about so far? Customer service representatives and their managers are usually concerned with making the customers happy!

As you do your research for your new business think about the type of results you want to see from a customer service survey?

• Jot those down.
• Ask yourself what type of overall customer service reputation you want to have?
• Eventually all of these will be the basis for your customer service goals.

Applying Chief Customer Service Role

Say for example you have to make a decision on email response time. You’re coming up with a plan for your business and you want to have a set response time you will respond to a customer’s email. You think about it for a little bit maybe even look to see what your competitors promise. You conclude that your ideal customer wants a response within 24 hours.

But then it happens: you start thinking about how could you possibly implement that type of turnaround with the email system you have currently.

Stop.

Focus.

Don’t get bogged down with concerns that are the responsibility of other roles or other departments. While in the role of Chief Customer Service Officer, your primary concern is to satisfy your customer.

Period.

Breakdown. Focus. Plan. Act.

Wasn’t that easy? Are you starting to see how breaking down all your decisions, goals and thoughts into their appropriate role will help reduce and prevent various fears?

As you transition: Breakdown. Focus. Plan. Act.

If you follow this process, your entrepreneur mindset will have the freedom it needs to make the best decisions for your new business. A good place to be!