Building rapport with customers can be difficult when you're tired.

Unfortunately, the fast-paced nature of many customer service jobs wears us out. Continuously jumping from one task to another can ultimately lead to something called Directed Attention Fatigue. 

Customer service professionals who excel at building rapport with their customers are masters at finding something they have in common with each person they serve.

Customer service emails are frequently misunderstood, misconstrued, or simply miss the mark. Here's a simple checklist you can use to review your own emails before sending.

Try to use the word "we" instead of "they" when discussing your company with a customer.

Have you ever heard a customer service rep say, "I'm sorry", but you felt she wasn't sorry at all? 

When I was in high school I worked as a retail sales associate in a clothing store. This experience taught me the importance of making the first move when helping customers.

Resist the temptation to let your personality get buried beneath the pressures of following policies, challenging customers, and demanding bosses. Instead, put your own personal stamp on the service you provide.

There are times when we all get busy, but each customer deserves our full focus and attention. "Busy" is never a valid excuse for poor service.

The 10 and 5 rule is famous in the hospitality industry as a simple reminder to consistently greet people that you encounter.

Chris Zane, founder of Zane's Cycles, made his company famous for customer service by focusing on each customer's Lifetime Value.