Art of Eloquence Blog — complaints RSS

If you've ever tried to call customer service in the last decade, you know how difficult and frustrating it can be.  Getting through the phone tree to the right department can be difficult enough, but getting to speak to a live person might take an act of Congress. Then there's the challenge of getting what you want from a customer service rep who is paid a little more than minimum wage and has little to no customer service training and absolutely no vested interest in the company for which he or she is working.  If calling THAT company again gives you nightmares, read on!   1. Getting through the Automated Audrey Phone Tree If the above picture doesn't send shivers...

So often I'm asked if communication skills are really that important for every day life.  I've developed a quote I'd like to put on every bumper sticker. "While you may manage to live your entire life without making a speech, you will not get through one day without communicating something to someone!" The past week, while I was posting about the National Words Matter Week contest, there were several news stories that came across my eDesk that illustrate the reasons behind why communication skills are not just needed for lawyers and politicians.  Here are two: An article from March 5, 2010 states Doctors urged to do more listening as complaints about care increase Among other things it states "Officials say...