Putting a Stop to Underperformance in Call Centers

Faith Ocampo Published on January 7, 2016 Last updated on December 5, 2022

In call centers, underperformance may be caused by skills mismatch, lack of emotional connection with the job, and miscommunication.

frustrated call center agents responding to customer service agent

To outperform competitors and deliver great services, managers must shift their focus from customer to employee experience. Unfortunately, most team leaders and supervisors make the mistake of looking too closely at customer experience.

Although there’s nothing inherently wrong with this, an unintended consequence is that they fail to properly manage the people who keep the business running.

It’s true that to deliver great customer service, all you need is a bunch of passionate employees. But if your call center agents are suffering from poor team dynamics and lack of teamwork, it’s time for you to step in.

To heighten employee engagement in the contact center, try these coaching strategies.

  1. Identify the Underperformance Issue

    call center agents team leader coaching assisting employee

    In call centers, underperformance isn’t as obvious as it sounds. You’ll only know for sure whether your team’s slacking off based on measurable results, such as average handling time, number of sales, repeat complaints, and others.

    If results are dropping, you might want to ask yourself the following questions:

    • Are your call center agents accepting fewer calls?
    • Do your agents miss work often?
    • Are your agents not communicating with the team?
  2. Determine Your Agents’ Training Needs

    call center agents in training

    Training sessions can help boost employee engagement, especially if underperformance is caused by skill gaps. To identify your agents’ training needs, you need to assess them based on all parameters that can affect their performance.

    Here are some metrics you might consider:

    • Call rate
    • Rapport-building skills
    • Product knowledge
    • Ticket backlog
    • Reply and resolution times

    The training program you’ll be designing must directly address your employees’ specific needs.

  3. Improve Call Routing

    call center agents hand dialing langline phone

    An optimized call routing system will allow you to manage call volume by wisely leveraging the individual expertise of your call center agents. For example, if one of your agents is not that well-versed in technical issues, the solution is to transfer the call to someone more capable of resolving the customer’s problems. This way, you can easily spot underperformance issues without compromising the customer experience.

  4. Align Incentives with Important Call Success Metrics

    call center agents with performance incentives gifts

    Reward your employees and do so generously, but make sure that you’re incentivizing them based on the call center metrics that really matter. Channel incentives toward key result areas to motivate your agents to work on these priority metrics. You may use the mentioned metrics in the second suggestion above.

  5. Always Provide Feedback

    call center agents team leader coaching training

    Call center agents often feel disconnected from their job and the company because managers, though unintentionally, may be keeping them in the dark. If employees don’t know how their performance is affecting the company, they might slack off because they think their job is negligible. By praising their good performance or urging them to improve on some aspects, they’ll know that their role in the company greatly matters.

Outsourcing to Open Access BPO includes rigorous recruitment and training to ensure that your brand only gets diligent workers with the right skills for your program. Our inclusive corporate culture and employee engagement practices produce a positive safe space conducive for productivity and growth.

Contact us today to get in touch with a program development expert and learn more about our program management and employee development strategies.

 

Read More

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 8 hours ago
To deliver great #CustomerExperience, you need a team of passionate employees.
But if your #CallCenter agents are suffering from 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 and 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, it's time for you to step in.

To heighten #EmployeeEngagement in the #ContactCenter, consider these coaching strategies: https://buff.ly/3LLT9YJ

----------
For quality #outsourcing frontlined by diligent, skilled #CX experts:
OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#EmployeeManagement #CXTraining
Open Access BPO 10 hours ago
As we zero in on tech-savviness and language proficiency as the most desirable qualities among #CallCenter reps, are we overlooking equally critical #CustomerService skills?

These are the 6 of the most underrated #CustomerService skills all #CX agents must have: https://buff.ly/3F1tiIq

----------
We hire, train, and manage for excellence.
Let us show you how our #CSat experts can help your brand skyrocket: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
Open Access BPO 13 hours ago
Exceptional #CustomerExperience is key to building brand loyalty and driving success.
Adding value takes it to the next level.

But what does that even mean? And what can you do to make it possible?
Find out now: https://buff.ly/46fYT5o

----------
Outsource now to give your customer the best #CX they deserve:
OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #CustomerService
Open Access BPO 3 days ago
𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 #𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺.

This week's #LinkRoundup lists down the ways #CallCenter leadership is instrumental in developing #CustomerSupport that empowers #CX for brands: https://buff.ly/3tfmzbq

• 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀
https://buff.ly/46ssJmB

• 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲
https://buff.ly/3PVKHYn

• 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆
https://buff.ly/3ZHL9xO

• 𝟭𝟬 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲
https://buff.ly/3ZxxwBf

• 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
https://buff.ly/3PVKHHR

• 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗴𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽
https://buff.ly/3ZC4UXt

• 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀
https://buff.ly/3Zyx3Pd

----------
Open Access BPO's rigorous recruitment, training, and continuous development ensure that only the best specialists will work and lead your ops.

Contact us today: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
Open Access BPO 3 days ago
Receiving a negative performance review can be challenging, but it doesn't have to signal the end of the road.

Instead, it presents an opportunity for personal and professional growth, allowing you to return even more resilient and determined.

Read our blog post right now: https://buff.ly/469BCSj
And let's explore:
• the importance of recovering from a bad performance review;
• the causes of performance failures; and
• how to determine the best course of action to address these challenges

----------
Contact us today and find out how our 24/7 multichannel services (in over 30 languages) can upgrade your #CustomerExperience: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerSupport #CustomerService
Open Access BPO 4 days ago
Knowing what influences customer expectations is the first step to improving your relationship with your customers.

Here are 7 things that can guide you: https://buff.ly/3tfzni4

----------
Cultivate your customer relationships with our smart business solutions: OpenAccessBPO.com/get-started

#WeSpeakYourLanguage
#CustomerExperience #CX
#CSat #CustomerSupport
Open Access BPO