Happy Pride Month, day 14, calm communication

[sonia]

14. I am proud of speaking calmly and politely to customer service people who work for companies that are not serving me as a customer. On the one hand that sounds like a low bar, and on the other hand it can be really frustrating to be faced with obnoxious scripts and blank walls when something has gone wrong with a transaction. It's even harder when they flatly ignore what I said.

I am working on responding better when I am not being heard. Trying to have more tools available than walking away, which is not always the best option. Repeating myself (calmly and politely). Asking questions. Acting confused and incapable (hate that one, but it works sometimes). And finally, saying, "We seem to be having trouble communicating. Please refer me to a supervisor."

Comments

[silveradept]

It is an issue, especially when you know that someone is just doing their job, and that job is actively interfering with making the situation better or resolving it. Managing to get through the screen to something good and without losing your temper is a thing to celebrate.

[sonia]

Yeah. I don't always manage to keep my temper, depending on how much other stress I'm under, but it's limited to raising my voice as I repeat myself, not anything personal to them.