Develop and maintain effective customer service within active leisure environments

URN: SKAEAF2
Business Sectors (Suites): Outdoor Programmes,Sports Coaching,Exercise and fitness
Developed by: SkillsActive
Approved on: 2021

Overview

​This standard is about providing a good level of customer service within active leisure environments


The standard covers 2 main outcomes.


  1. engage with customers

  2. manage customers' feedback

The standard is aimed at staff who work directly with customers in a range of customer facing settings. Remember that customers include everyone you provide a service to both internally and externally to the organisation.


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

Engage with customers

  1. present a professional and respectful image when engaging with your customers

  2. be in the right place at the right time to give a good impression and deliver good customer service

  3. provide a positive and supportive environment for all customers which promotes health and wellbeing

  4. hold a conversation with your customer that establishes rapport and is focused on the customers' needs

  5. focus on your customer and listen carefully to ensure that you collect all possible information you need from the conversation

  6. focus your attention on your customer so that non-verbal signs do not betray disinterest, boredom or irritation

  7. adapt your communication to meet the individual needs of your customer

  8. provide clear information of your customers' current progress and achievements

  9. explain your services and/or products and how this will support the customers' needs for future taking into consideration any additional services and/or products that may need to be included

  10. be pro-active to recognise and deal with potential problems that your customers may face and involve others where required

Manage customers' feedback

11. recognise when something is an issue from the customers' point of view

12. acknowledge the customers' feedback and apologise for any inconvenience if appropriate

13. reassure them that it will be dealt with by yourself or referred to an appropriate person

14. deal with any complaint quickly and calmly, following your organisations procedures

15. report to an appropriate person for help if you cannot deal with the complaint yourself

16. keep the customer informed

17. take ownership of the complaint and ensure it has been dealt with efficiently and the customer is satisfied with the outcome


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

Engage with customers

  1. the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere

  2. the importance of good customer care to you and your organisation

  3. the importance of organisational values and guidelines and how to follow these.

  4. your organisation's procedures for dress and appearance and why these are important

  5. how to make a good first impression to the customer and why this is important

  6. why it is important for customers to feel that you are working hard to give them an excellent service

  7. why good timekeeping and making sure you are where you are expected to be is important to giving excellent customer service

  8. ways you can build social support and inclusion within your environment

  9. the importance of promoting health and wellbeing as a fundamental need of all customers

  10. why it is important to maintain your focus on the customer and their needs

  11. the principles of body language that enable you to interpret customer feelings without verbal communication

  12. why the expectations and behaviour of individual customers will demand different responses to create rapport and achieve customer satisfaction

  13. how to provide accurate information of your customer's current progress and achievements and how this will impact on future needs

  14. the main products and/or services offered in your organisation

  15. how the different products and/or services may benefit customers' specific needs or interest

  16. how to set a good example to your customers in terms of a healthy and active lifestyle

Manage customers' feedback

18. how to deal with difficult customers professionally and in line with the organisations customer service policy

19. why it is important to see any complaint from the customer's point of view, acknowledge the complaint and apologise to the customer if appropriate

  1. the types of feedback that customers may have and how to deal with these yourself

  2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role

22. the types of customer feedback that you should pass on to an appropriate person and who this should be

  1. situations where it is important to explain to the customer what has caused the issue they have complained about

  2. why it is important to let the customer know what is happening and how long it will take to resolve their complaint

  3. why it is important to make sure the customer is satisfied with what you have done

  4. how reporting customer feedback can help to improve customer care in the future


Scope/range


Scope Performance

Customers:

  1. internal to your organisation
  2. external to your organisation
  3. new customers
  4. regular customers
  5. with specific needs
  6. with routine needs
  7. with non-routine needs

Non-verbal:

  1. body position
  2. gestures
  3. facial expression
  4. posture
  5. eye contact

     Communication:

  6. face-to-face

  7. telephone
  8. email
  9. social media
  10. social events
  11. video or live presentations

  12. newsletters


Scope Knowledge

Feedback:

  1. with products
  2. with service
  3. communication
  4. behaviour of others
  5. Incidents/accidents

Appropriate person:

  1. working in a different department
  2. senior colleagues
  3. working externally

Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary

Customers

Individuals, groups or company that purchase goods or service. Customers are also those that are internal to your organisation.


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

1

Indicative Review Date

2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

SkillsActive

Original URN

n/a

Relevant Occupations

Leisure, Leisure and Travel Service Occupations, Receptionist, Sport, Leisure and Recreation, Sports and Fitness Occupations, Sports Coaches, Facility Managers

SOC Code

3433

Keywords

customer service; active; leisure; communication;