| Are you at your wit's end with your car insurance | | | | most important stage in your communication |
| company? Believe it or not, you're in good | | | | process. Why? Because this is the stage when |
| company. Many, many drivers report over and | | | | you move past raw emotion and start looking for |
| over again that they consistently have problems | | | | solutions. This is also the point when you'll be able |
| with their insurers. The good news is, nine times | | | | to determine whether a solution exists. |
| out of ten the conflict you're having right now | | | | It's unfortunate, but there are some situations |
| isn't doomed to ruin your relationship with your | | | | (such as rising car insurance rates) that can't be |
| insurer. All it takes is a little patience and some | | | | ignored and simply have to be dealt with. Others |
| high quality business communication skills and you | | | | will have a clear cut solution (for example, a billing |
| can reach a resolution and have your insurance | | | | mistake). Every once in a while you'll have a |
| back on track in the blink of an eye. | | | | major conflict that has no clear solution and is |
| - The first key to successful communication is to | | | | going to require lots of negotiation between you |
| remember to never, ever call your insurer when | | | | and your agent. Whichever yours happens to be, |
| you're angry. Yes, this might seem a little | | | | if you have a clear picture of what you'd like the |
| counter-productive; we do some of our best | | | | outcome to be you'll be in a better position to |
| work when we're charged up on emotion! Unlike | | | | make it happen. |
| artistic or musical skills, however, business | | | | - Finally, remember who you're talking to and gear |
| communication doesn't thrive on excesses of | | | | your message toward your target audience-in this |
| emotion. It thrives on cool, level-headed thinking | | | | case, the customer service representative you're |
| and the ability to see both sides of the story. | | | | going to be talking with when you call your car |
| It doesn't matter how rational you are six days | | | | insurance provider. Ideally your company will have |
| out of the week, that's something you just can't | | | | taken the time to thoroughly train their agents, |
| do when you're charged up. If the issue will wait, | | | | but understand that the person you talk to may |
| let it lie for a few hours (or even a few days). | | | | not have the resources (or the authority) to |
| Let yourself get over that initial rush of anger, | | | | resolve your conflict. Be patient, and don't hesitate |
| then pick up the phone. By that point you'll be | | | | to suggest they pass you on to a manager if |
| thinking clearly and able to make your argument in | | | | there's no resolution in sight. |
| a way that nobody could refute. | | | | A little patience, kindness and calm, levelheaded |
| - Before you call your insurance agent take a | | | | thinking will go a long way toward smoothing the |
| minute to think about your situation. What do you | | | | conflicts between you and your car insurance |
| want to happen? What would be your ideal | | | | agent and setting the stage for a great |
| resolution? Believe it or not, this is probably the | | | | relationship for many years to come. |