csrs-shutterstockOne key to having happy, repeat customers is to have happy customer service representatives.

Working as a customer service rep can be a stressful job. If customers have problems, your employees have to deal with them, and the process isn’t always pleasant.

Customer service relates directly to how much money you can make. A 2011 Oracle report found 86 percent of customers will pay more for better customer service.

And a Glassdoor study found that 81 percent of employees were motivated to work harder when a boss showed appreciation for their work.

As an employer, you can do several things to keep your workers invested in your company’s success.

Incentives:

• Reward tasks with money or a gift card.

• Consider quarterly bonuses if customer service reps meet a certain standard or level of sales or respond to the most customer service inquiries.

• Offer rewards tied to a particular goal. For instance, have your reps encourage happy customers to post reviews on social media, such as Facebook and Yelp. Offer bonuses for every benchmark – say, every 10 positive reviews.

Fun:

• Offer employees perks and breaks, such as doughnuts or cookies, a gourmet lunch from a favorite restaurant, or massages.

• Play games with prizes on a regular basis to keep the work atmosphere lively.

• Organize team-building and group activities – bowling, going to the zoo, having a company picnic, playing a softball game.

Recognition:

• Acknowledge hard work with awards, such as employee of the month, with a ceremony, a cake and a photo displayed in a prominent place.

• Offer rewards and awards for going above and beyond the defined tasks of the job.

• Thank your employees! Employees who feel appreciated work harder.

Empowerment:

• Give your reps a voice in making the company work better by holding meetings and collecting suggestions.

• Find aspects of your employees’ performance to praise, not just to criticize.

• Provide opportunities for growth and promotion by offering a clear career path and asking employees what they want and hope for in their jobs.

• Offer training and coaching to give employees tools they need to succeed.

• Allow flexible scheduling that gives employees more of a sense of control over their jobs and lives.

• Empower employees to contribute to the success of the company via responsibilities and decision-making.