Photo by Russell Bailey
June 05, 2024
SIU’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development offers customer service training June 17
CARBONDALE, Ill. — “The Art of Giving Great Service” is a no-cost workshop that the Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is providing in June in response to public requests for top-quality customer service training.
The 4-hour ZingTrain workshop will be offered at two locations on June 17: from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Kokopelli Event Center, 1527 Champions Drive in Marion, and from 4-8 p.m. at the 17th Street Warehouse, 32 N. 17th St. in Murphysboro. Registration begins a half-hour before each session.
Sign up now
Although there is no cost to attend the workshops, registration is required, and seating is limited. Register online for the Marion session or the Murphysboro session.
Comprehensive sessions
The interactive workshops feature engaging activities and discussions covering a variety of topics:
- Building a common understanding.
- Zingerman’s recipes for great customer service. (Zingerman’s is a community of 10 unique successful businesses in Ann Arbor, Michigan.)
- Everyone’s role in providing wonderful customer service.
- Zingerman’s key service measures.
- Recognizing service success.
- Handling complaints through role-play.
- Extra-mile brainstorming.
- Appreciation exercises.
- Mastering the stages of learning a skill.
- Harnessing the power of language.
- Elevating service over the phone.
After completing the workshop, participants will be able to apply Zingerman’s customer service model to their own business or organization, use innovative tools and techniques to improve customer service initiatives and access a supportive peer network to overcome challenges and obstacles.
This is the second in a series of workshops that the OIED is sponsoring because of the need expressed in the region for customer service training, according to Lynn Andersen Lindberg, executive director of the Office of Innovation and Economic Development at SIU. The office partnered with the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center earlier this year to present “Brand Differentiating Service: Delivering an Elevated Experience.”
“The OIED continues to look for new and different ways to meet the needs of new and growing businesses throughout the region,” Lindberg said.
Additional details
The OIED is SIU’s primary outreach arm to the region, offering business development, workforce innovation, economic development, and community engagement services and activities throughout Southern Illinois. To learn more about SIU’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development and its Illinois Small Business Development Center email innovation@siu.edu or call 618-453-5047. For registration information and questions about this program, email SBDC@siu.edu or call 618-536-2424.