How top work from home professionals stay motivated

October 5, 2018 | Virtual Agents | Blog

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woman stretching at desk

You’re in your element. Now, keep your eye on the prize!

Being your own boss, working from home and selecting your hours are all wonderful perks of being an independent customer service agent. Even so, staying productive and driven—especially when working from home—can be a challenge.

In honor of Customer Service Appreciation Week, we curated real conversations from the Liveops agent online community, Liveops Nation, to compile the top 10 tips for staying motivated and delivering successful results.

10 ways Liveops agents stay motivated when for working from home:

1. Find the right client.

Agents agree, when you enjoy your work, you’re more productive. If you’re working with a client you don’t love, opt in for another until you find the right fit.

2. Go beyond the surface.

Try to directly connect and empathize with callers. Start each call with the objective to dramatically lift their mood before the conversation comes to a close. A little extra effort will set you apart.

3. Create your perfect environment.

Hang inspirational quotes, posters, or images around your desk to offer a daily boost. Keep helpful material, such as time zone conversion charts, the phonetic alphabet, and necessary supplies within reach to reduce frustration and save time. Mitigating even small detractors in your day can make a big difference.

4. Stay in the present.

It’s easier said than done, we know. Seasoned agents recommend doing your best to remember you can’t change the past or control the future. Focus on making today your best day.

5. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. The ability to admit when you make a mistake is powerful, as is the ability to learn from it and move on. Simply “relax, take a deep breath and answer that next call.”

6. Work in front of a mirror.

Watching your facial expressions can tell you a lot about how you’ll be perceived on the other end of the phone line. Do you look frustrated or tired? It might be time for a break. Get some fresh air, give yourself a pep talk or grab a beverage. Are you smiling? Keep it up! Smiling can improve your mood and portray a positive attitude to your customer, even if they can’t see you.

7. Connect with other agents.

For work-from-home agents, finding a support system is important for growth, knowledge sharing and support. Find an online community to connect with people like you. Liveops hosts a community of over 6,000 independent agents to ensure that working from home doesn’t mean working alone. For agents who enjoy in-person interactions a local meetup is right up your alley. Facebook or Meetup.com searches can get you started.

8. Set goals.

What’s more motivating than beating your personal goals? Remember, goals differ person-to-person and don’t always have to be quantitative. Set small, incremental performance increases week-by-week. Over time, you’ll notice an encouraging bump in the success of your home business!

9. Enjoy the independence.

Who doesn’t like setting their own schedule? Some agents set a strict calendar, and others go with the flow. Regardless of which camp you fall in, continue to empower yourself to make your business your own.

10. Have fun!

Tell yourself today is going to be great and don’t stop smiling! Find the joy in helping others.

 

We’re eager to hear more examples of what works for you. What tips would you offer an agent struggling to stay motivated?

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Katie Bapple

Katie Bapple is the Sr. Director of Agent Engagement at Liveops. With 10 years of experience building collaborative communities, Katie focuses on the evolution of the agent experience by supporting programmatic opportunities and process optimization.

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