4 Call center practices that stifle agents’ creativity

Faith Ocampo Published on December 30, 2016

bored customer service call center worker with headache

A call center that fosters creativity among its agents will be able to enhance the customer experience in ways no other organization can.

Think about the world’s biggest names when it comes to customer service, including Zappos, Starbucks, and Amazon. These brands have one thing in common: they focus on promoting creativity and independence among their customer support reps.

This type of organizational culture allows these brands to delight their customers in entirely new ways. Zappos, for instance, implements only a handful (if any) of rules that their agents must follow as they interact with customers. With this kind of autonomy, therefore, agents can make decisions that are tailored to every single customer’s preferences and needs. They can spend hours on the phone with a single customer and even deliver services that aren’t normally offered. This allows Zappos to build meaningful and lasting relationships with their clientele.
The thing is, it’s impossible to create this type of atmosphere overnight. If your call center is still operating under a structured work environment, it can be hard to promote creativity among your customer service teams. The first step you must take is to identify the counterproductive habits you must abolish or revise.
Here are the four practices that are stifling your employees’ creativity.

1.     Not letting agents decide on their own

stunned call center worker hands in the air

Yes, it can be quite scary to let agents make independent decisions about what’s best for a customer. That’s why most brands prefer to implement strict rules that must be followed when a customer raises a query or a complaint.

This practice, however, is a big hurdle against customer experience personalization.

As the frontline agents who directly talk to your customers, your customer support reps possess deep insight regarding consumers’ preferences. If you’ll trust them enough to decide on their own, they can help you delight customers, nurture better relationships, and create an outstanding reputation.

If you think you’re not quite ready to grant them this authority yet, start by gradually relaxing your support policies. Also, make sure your agents are equipped with proper training and knowledge as well as the tools they need to perform well.

2.     Measuring AHT

call center boss reprimanding customer service with clipboard

AHT, or average handle time, is a staple metric most call centers use as part of their performance management and monitoring. It refers to the length or duration of a transaction, particularly phone calls. Initially, it has been considered a good measure of customer support speed. The premise was that the faster transactions are ended, the happier and more satisfied customers will be.

But recently, more and more companies are abandoning this idea. Instead, they’re putting a premium on successful problem resolution and delightful customer experiences. True enough, a phone call’s length wouldn’t tell you whether an issue was successfully resolved or not, or whether a customer had a good time talking to an agent. Tracking this metric can therefore be counterproductive and may lead an agent to prioritize speed over a conversation’s quality.

3.     Using scripts

call center agent in yellow reading printed document

Call center scripts are becoming obsolete as a result of consumers’ increased demand for personalized services. They want to talk to human agents who can understand their frustrations, empathize with them, and recommend tailored solutions to the issues they’re dealing with. Imposing scripts thus curbs agents’ ability to relate to customers in a natural manner.

Instead of scripts, focus on harnessing agents’ communication skills including active listening and empathy. This would allow them to develop meaningful relationships with customers.

4.     Ignoring employee insights

boss looking bored ignoring business team

Your customer support reps, who talk to your clients on a daily basis, possess rich insights about what your consumers want, the most common problems they encounter, and their expectations from your future products. As your employees, they may also be able to help you revise inefficient workflows that are hindering them from carrying out their jobs well.

Therefore, if you ignore their insights, you’ll lose plenty of chances to improve your organizational culture, internal processes, and business strategies. Plus, employee engagement plummets when agents feel as though their leaders don’t value their inputs.

Soliciting employees’ insights, on the other hand, inspires creativity and the formation of new, effective, and unique business approaches. This will let you build a customer- and employee-centric organization.

 

Faith is a digital media enthusiast aiming to become an active part of the tech world by sharing her insights. She likes to blog about everything digimarketing, technology, and social media.
Join us on facebook
Open Access BPO 10 days ago
For global businesses, #outsourcing has evolved beyond a cost-saving measure into a strategic pillar for building true business resilience.

𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿.

❓ How do you future-proof your business in an unpredictable market?
❓ What is your approach to building a business that is built to last in an unpredictable market?

Learn more about creating an unbreakable business model, continue the conversation with us over at: https://buff.ly/N4b8hOD

________________________________
Brands trust Open Access BPO in building resilience, with our customized solutions and a diverse, multilingual workforce that strengthens their operations.

Don't wait for the next market shift—connect with us now to start building your unbreakable business:
https://buff.ly/rWaK05N

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#PhilippineCallCenters #BusinessContinuity
#BusinessResilience #StrategicOutsourcing
#B2B #FutureProofing #BusinessAgility
Open Access BPO 25 days ago
Disasters can happen at any time. So, if you're thinking about #outsourcing to a #CallCenter.

The best thing you can do to ensure your ops' resilience is to choose an #OutsourcingPartner with robust #DisasterRecover and #BusinessContinuity strategies.

Here's why and how (plus tips for implementing a successful outsourcing strategy):
https://buff.ly/Zf9nscz

——————————
Open Access BPO's commitment extends beyond exceptional #CX.

Our robust information security strategy ensure the protection of your data, even in times of disaster: https://buff.ly/TVHntWT

#WeSpeakYourLanugage
#PhilippineCallCenters #DisasterPreparedness
#BusinessResilience #RiskManagement
#CrisisManagement #EmployeeSafety
Open Access BPO 28 days ago
Promoting #CallCenter agents to leadership roles is crucial for both talent development and ensuring a consistent #CustomerExperience.

Structured training programs are the bedrock for building the skills that enable these new leaders to effectively oversee their teams.

Let's discuss how to infuse these key points into a future leader's workplace persona: https://buff.ly/uD7ouM6

——————————
Partner with an #outsourcing firm that finds a way to leverage accents and multilingualism to deliver excellent #CX.

Outsource your business needs to Open Access BPO's expert team, supporting over 30 languages.

Contact us today.
Let's start planning your ops: https://buff.ly/n3TzYaF

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
Open Access BPO 29 days ago
Boosting agent #productivity and #satisfaction is a critical strategy for increasing efficiency in #CallCenters.

A positive work environment leads to more engaged employees, which in turn improves #CustomerService and retention.

A highly engaged and motivated workforce is essential for providing excellent #CustomerService and retaining top talent.

Check out these 5 tips to boost #EmployeeEngagement and productivity in #ContactCenters: https://buff.ly/ba5Mx36

——————————
See how Open Access BPO's dedication to employee training, engagement, and a diverse culture helps us deliver a superior #CustomerExperience: https://buff.ly/uTdQH3D

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CSat #CustomerSupport #CX
#CustomerSatisfaction #CSat
#EmployeeManagement
Open Access BPO 30 days ago
Open Access BPO is taking a big step towards a healthier workplace with a new program designed to help employees build lasting, healthy habits.

The multilingual call center's initiative focuses on holistic wellness practices that are perfectly suited for the #BPO environment, including physical fitness, nutrition, and stress management.

See how we're revolutionizing employee wellness: https://buff.ly/dXBijx5

——————————
The success of our team is our top priority, and that dedication is reflected in the results we deliver for our clients.
We believe that a happy and healthy workforce is the best foundation for a successful partnership.

Looking for an outsourcing partner that's invested in both its people and your brand? Let's talk: https://buff.ly/n3TzYaF

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OneForHealth #oabpoSHIFT
#IdeaHubOABPO #EmployeeWellness
#WellbeingAtWork #EmployeeEngagement
Open Access BPO 32 days ago
𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗣𝗢 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

Multilingual call center 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐏𝐎 has launched its largest employee wellness program, 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗙𝗧: 𝗔𝗻 𝗢𝗔𝗕𝗣𝗢 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺.

The three-month program was launched July 30 at the company's Robinsons Summit Center HQ in Makati, with a live stream to its Davao and work-from-home teams. According to Senior Director Nate Martinez, SHIFT focuses on a holistic approach to fitness and nutrition to promote lasting lifestyle changes.

The initiative, which stands for 𝐒𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝐇𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝐈𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝐅𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝐓𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, aims to help employees in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry build healthier, sustainable habits.

Company Nurse Princess Ann Louisse Pascual provided a detailed overview of the program, emphasizing its goal of long-term wellness rather than just short-term fitness goals. Nurse Supervisor Shania Semper also highlighted the importance of health and wellness within the BPO industry.

The company anticipates this investment in wellness will lead to a more productive, engaged, and healthier workforce.

This initiative is a testament to the company's commitment to building a supportive, people-first culture, with the goal of fostering improved employee well-being, morale, and overall performance.

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#OneForHealth #WorkLifeBalance
#MentalHealthMatters #IdeaHubOABPO
#EmployeeWellness #WellbeingAtWork