Do you ever get the feeling someone is watching you? Or you are driving alone, and for some reason, you think the car behind you has been following you too long to feel comfortable with? Today I'm here to say that I am a stalker.
Yes, a stalker. This is the truth.
Ever since I went to teller training, I have been taught to "build rapport" and "get to know your customers" so that I can "better meet their needs and give good customer service." Lies. All lies.
At least for me.
When I try to build rapport with customers, things get weird. Fast.
The bank encourages us to get to know the customers so that when they walk in the door we can greet them by name. In most cases, it's a great idea to use their name before they bring you their withdrawal or deposit slip with their name written down -- it makes them feel special and comfortable that we know them.
Not a smart move in every case, my friend, not a smart move.
I have learned the hard way that there are just some people you don't do that with. Guys mainly, just guys. For some reason, there are certain guys who think that if I know their name I must really like them. In one such instance, I greeted the guy customer by name before he approached my window and he said something like this: "Wow, you know my name already? That's normally kinda weird, but I don't mind."
The way he said it, I got the impression he wouldn't think it was weird if I were to get to know a lot more about him, but I wasn't about to start any conversations leading that direction.
Nope, not going there.
So I officially learned my lesson on greeting male customers by name -- don't do it under any circumstances!
There are also times when I have to hold myself back from letting on how much I really know about my customers life. I don't want to freak them out. So I refrain from saying things like, "Hey, your dad was just in today and he was saying you guys are having a barbeque this weekend and your Aunt may stop by. Sounds like fun! Oh, and don't forget to bring the chips."
Especially if I've only helped them once or twice before. Yep, that tends to make them uncomfortable and rush away.
Not stalking. Really, I'm not a creeper.
Along with building rapport, the bank encourages us to have conversations that will help us know our customers. And again, in most cases this works fine with a variety of people. But not everyone.
With certain people, you try to stick to general conversation and don't ask anything about their personal life. Some people you will never be able to get to stop talking if you ask them about their family or job. There are just some conversations that will literally never end. Seriously. You learn who you can talk to and who you try to finish their transaction with as quickly as possible.
I have a list of customers that I literally only talk about the weather with. I figure that is the only safe ground to work with as I speed through their transaction on my computer and try to avoid too much eye contact. As you may have guessed, most of these customers are guys.
I have found that with certain guys I need to be in control of the conversation if I don't want it to go south fast. Before they even get to my window I already have an outline on what we will be talking about, because under no circumstance do I want to be talking about either of our personal lives. Most guys just get the wrong impression when I'm trying to be polite and build rapport, and I'm sure the bank would frown on me if I told these men I don't really care about what they are doing this weekend, but have to make some sort of conversation to keep my supervisor happy.
So, I'm really not a stalker. At least, I try not to be, but it doesn't always come across that way.
I blame the bank.
And my teller training.
the end
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