Customer Service Skills

Useful Checklists And Templates For Customer Service Operations




These checklists and templates will help improve workflow, enhance customer interactions, and track performance. These resources cover daily operations, team management, performance evaluations, and customer communication.


1. Daily Customer Service Operations Checklist

Purpose: Ensure the customer service team starts and ends the day efficiently.

| Task | Timeframe | Completed (?/?) | Notes |
|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------|
| Log in to customer service tools (CRM, ticketing system). | Start of shift | | Ensure all systems are functional. |
| Review pending tickets and prioritize urgent cases. | Start of shift | | Focus on high-priority tasks first. |
| Check emails, voicemails, and chat messages. | Start of shift | | Respond promptly to unresolved inquiries. |
| Monitor daily metrics (response time, ticket backlog). | Morning | | Use dashboards or reports. |
| Update the team on any changes (policies, promotions, outages). | Team huddle | | Share updates at the start of the day. |
| Reassign unresolved tickets from previous shifts. | Morning | | Ensure no ticket is overlooked. |
| Follow up with customers awaiting responses. | Throughout the day | | Send updates even if issues aren’t resolved. |
| Document escalations and notify the appropriate team. | As needed | | Ensure smooth escalation processes. |
| Log out of tools and ensure tickets are updated. | End of shift | | Prepare for the next shift. |


2. Customer Complaint Resolution Checklist

Purpose: Handle complaints effectively and professionally.

| Step | Completed (?/?) | Notes |
|----------------------------------------------|---------------------|----------------------------------|
| Acknowledge the customer’s concern promptly. | | “I understand how frustrating this must be.” |
| Listen actively without interrupting. | | Show empathy and validate their feelings. |
| Confirm understanding by paraphrasing the issue. | | “So you’re saying [specific issue], is that correct?” |
| Apologize sincerely for the inconvenience. | | “I’m truly sorry for the trouble this has caused.” |
| Offer a solution or explain next steps. | | Be clear about timelines and actions. |
| Follow up with the customer after resolution. | | Ensure they’re satisfied with the outcome. |
| Document the issue and resolution in the CRM. | | Include all relevant details for tracking. |


3. Team Meeting Agenda Template

Purpose: Keep customer service team meetings organized and focused.

| Topic | Details | Time Allocated |
|-----------------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Welcome and Updates | Share company news, product updates, or team changes. | 5-10 minutes |
| Daily Metrics Review | Highlight key metrics (response time, ticket volume). | 10 minutes |
| Customer Feedback | Discuss common trends and recurring issues. | 10 minutes |
| Training/Coaching | Address skill gaps or share best practices. | 15-20 minutes |
| Q&A and Challenges | Open the floor for team input on pain points. | 10 minutes |
| Action Plan | Summarize next steps and assign responsibilities. | 5 minutes |


4. Customer Interaction Quality Review Template

Purpose: Evaluate and provide feedback on customer service interactions.

| Category | Criteria | Score (1-5) | Comments/Notes |
|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|
| Greeting | Polite, professional, and warm tone. | | |
| Active Listening | Asked clarifying questions and avoided interruptions. | | |
| Empathy | Expressed understanding and validation of the issue. | | |
| Resolution | Offered clear and actionable solutions. | | |
| Professionalism | Maintained composure and avoided negative language. | | |
| Closing | Ended interaction positively and confirmed satisfaction. | | |


5. Customer Service Training Plan Template

Purpose: Structure training sessions for new hires or upskilling existing staff.

| Training Topic | Objective | Trainer | Date | Completed (?/?) |
|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------|------------------|---------------------|
| Company policies and values | Ensure staff understand company standards. | HR/Trainer | [Insert Date] | |
| Product knowledge | Teach features, benefits, and troubleshooting. | Team Lead | [Insert Date] | |
| Customer service principles | Cover active listening, empathy, and de-escalation. | Trainer | [Insert Date] | |
| CRM and tools training | Train on ticketing and communication platforms. | IT/Trainer | [Insert Date] | |
| Handling difficult customers | Teach de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution. | Trainer | [Insert Date] | |


6. Escalation Workflow Template

Purpose: Standardize the process for escalating customer issues.

| Step | Task | Assigned To | Notes |
|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|---------------------------------|
| Step 1: Identify Issue | Determine if the issue requires escalation. | Frontline Agent | Examples: technical faults, policy exceptions. |
| Step 2: Gather Details | Collect relevant information (ticket ID, history). | Frontline Agent | Include screenshots or attachments if applicable. |
| Step 3: Notify Manager | Escalate via email or CRM. Include all details. | Frontline Agent | Use subject: Escalation - [Issue Description]. |
| Step 4: Acknowledge Receipt | Manager confirms receipt of escalation. | Manager | Respond within [X] minutes/hours. |
| Step 5: Resolve Issue | Manager/team resolves the issue or provides guidance. | Assigned Specialist | Ensure timely communication with the customer. |
| Step 6: Follow Up | Agent follows up with the customer to confirm resolution. | Frontline Agent | Document outcome in CRM. |


7. Customer Feedback Survey Template

Purpose: Gather feedback to improve customer service operations.

| Question | Response Options |
|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| How would you rate the support you received? | [1-5 Stars] |
| Did the representative resolve your issue? | [Yes / No] |
| How satisfied are you with the response time? | [Very Satisfied / Satisfied / Neutral / Dissatisfied] |
| What could we do to improve your experience? | [Open-ended response] |
| How likely are you to recommend us to others? | [0-10 Scale for NPS] |


8. Weekly Performance Dashboard Template

Purpose: Track team and individual performance metrics.

| Metric | Team Goal | Team Average | Individual Contributor | Comments/Actions |
|-----------------------------|------------------|---------------------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| First Response Time | < 5 minutes | [Insert Data] | [Insert Data] | Reduce delays in peak times. |
| Average Resolution Time | < 24 hours | [Insert Data] | [Insert Data] | Streamline ticket workflows. |
| Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)| > 90% | [Insert Data] | [Insert Data] | Focus on empathy training. |
| Tickets Resolved | [Insert Goal] | [Insert Data] | [Insert Data] | Assign backlog cases to reduce load. |


9. Shift Change Handoff Checklist

Purpose: Ensure a smooth transition between shifts for customer service teams.

| Task | Completed (?/?) | Notes |
|----------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------|
| Review open tickets and update statuses. | | Highlight urgent or escalated cases. |
| Notify the next shift of pending follow-ups. | | Include expected timelines. |
| Share updates on system outages or issues. | | Ensure team is aware of ongoing problems. |
| Restock supplies (e.g., headsets, notepads). | | Ensure equipment is ready. |
| Leave a summary note in the handoff log. | | Include key updates for the team. |


10. End-of-Day Summary Template

Purpose: Provide a daily summary of customer service activities for team tracking and leadership review.

| Date: [Insert Date] | Prepared By: [Name] |
|---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Tickets Received: | [Insert Number] |
| Tickets Resolved: | [Insert Number] |
| Pending Tickets: | [Insert Number] |
| Customer Satisfaction Score: | [Insert Data] |
| Escalations: | [Insert Number] |
| Notable Issues: | [Brief Description] |
| Team Highlights: | [E.g., exceptional service provided by [Name]] |


Best Practices for Using These Templates and Checklists

  1. Custom Fit: Tailor templates to match your company’s tools, workflows, and policies.
  2. Automate Where Possible: Use CRM systems (e.g., Zendesk, HubSpot) to automate and track checklists and reports.
  3. Regularly Update: Adapt templates as business needs or customer expectations evolve.
  4. Encourage Feedback: Involve the team in refining checklists for efficiency and relevance.

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