Learn • Anywhere
Rumie logo

Picture this: you're at a grocery store, and the cashier looks flustered from dealing with a busy line of customers. Some people in line are getting impatient and rude, forgetting that the cashier is human too, and just trying to do their job.  

An animated robot shifting its head side to side with the text saying, I''m not a robot, I'm a human!'

What if I told you that you have the power to help make this interaction smoother and more pleasant for both of you? 

Grover from Sesame Street wearing a helmet and red cape, standing proud like a hero.

Having been a retail worker before, I know exactly what it’s like to face tough situations in customer service. Learning from those experiences, I now have a better idea of how to handle myself when I’m a customer.

So what should you do? These 4 tips will help you be polite and show kindness.

Tip 1: Show empathy

Icon of a person with a heart as a head putting their arm around the person with a sad face next to them.

Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s perspective and how they may feel.

Showing empathy to a customer service worker can look like:

  • Active listening: Give the customer service worker your full attention and make eye contact. Show gestures like nodding or cues, such as: “I understand” or “Can you tell me more?”

  • Acknowledging their efforts: Express your appreciation for their hard work, even if the outcome wasn’t what you expected. Saying, “Thank you for your time and assistance” shows their work was appreciated.

  • Validate their feelings and offer encouragement: Recognize the customer service worker’s emotions, especially if they look frustrated or stressed. Say things like: “I appreciate your efforts to help me even with the challenges.” Or “You’re doing a great job! Thank you for your efforts!” 

I remember whenever I heard words of encouragement as a worker, I really appreciated the customer for empathizing, especially during a hard day! 

Drew Barrymore putting her hands together in prayer form and mouthing, 'Thank you!'

Did you know?

Customer service workers are likely to remember your kind gestures for a long time. I still remember the kindness people shared with me when I was a worker, and there were many times when it changed and brightened my whole day!

Tip 2: Be patient

Icon of a person standing and showing the motions of breathing in and out.

Patience is the ability to remain calm in a difficult situation without getting upset.

Sometimes you may be in situations where things are delayed or slower than expected. It’s important to stay composed and remember that customer service workers are doing the best they can to assist you!

Instead of getting frustrated, find ways to stay patient:

  • Make a to-do list on your phone

  • Chat with someone else in the line

  • Do small exercises, like standing on one foot and then the other

  • Engage in people-watching and your surroundings

  • Take deep breaths and count to 10 in your head

A green doll that looks like a little girl breathing in and out. The text reads, '[deep breaths]'.

Tip 3: Be polite and respectful

Icon of two hands shaking hands.

Showing kindness goes a long way! Being polite and respectful is important for any human exchange, especially in customer service.

Use friendly greetings like "Good afternoon" or "Good evening", and ask about their well-being. Avoid aggressive language and use respectful language to foster a positive and smooth exchange for both you and the customer service worker! 

Joey and Chandler from the show Friends smiling and shooting their fingers in the same direction as signs of encouragement.

Did you know?

Yelling or being rude to workers will NOT help resolve the problem faster. It slows down the process and makes it harder to find solutions.

Tip 4: Remember boundaries

Being nice alone is not enough — it’s also about understanding boundaries in customer service.

Understand and recognize that every customer service worker has a different role, and every role comes with different responsibilities

Two women in a beauty store. One stands behind the counter and the other taps their card to make a purchase.Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash

Sometimes there may be limitations on what they can help you with, and recognizing that boundary shows that you understand.

Examples:

  • When a cashier can't process a return without a receipt

  • When a server can't give you a discount without a manager's approval

This understanding not only shows empathy, but also helps create effective problem-solving and smoother interactions for everyone involved.

An animated sheep smiling and giving two thumbs up.

Quiz

You’re returning an item to the store. The customer service worker helping you seems new, and the process is slower than usual. How should you approach this? Select all that apply:

Take Action

Icon of a silhouette of a head with a smiley face inside the head.

I learned how to be more polite to customer service workers from my own experiences. Now, as a customer, I treat them with the same compassion and respect I'd want if I was in their shoes. 

An animated sloth slowly making a big smile.

Next time you’re interacting with a customer service worker: 

License:

This Byte has been authored by

RP

Rearchenie Phos

Teacher

BEd, BA

English

🍪 We use technical and analytics cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. more info