In a recent white paper from customer support software provider Parature, customer service guru Shep Hyken identifies what he sees as ten ways to provide great customer service. Here's a quick re-cap:

Customer Service is Common Sense: Let's say that you are taking your car in for some maintenance work. Would it be unreasonable to expect such things as prompt appointments, a nice greeting you when you come in and the garage knowing your car's service history? In other words, common sense. Most of us know what good customer service is. It is intuitive: common sense.

The Golden Employee Rule: Whatever is happening on the inside to the employee is being felt on the outside by the customer. In other words, amazement starts inside. Become an example of the behavior you want employees to exhibit to their customers and their fellow employees.

The Awesome Responsibility: Everyone must recognize that at any given time, they represent the entire company; the name, brand, reputation, building and all of the employees.

Manage Touch Points and Impact Points: Any time a customer comes into contact with any aspect of a business, however remote, they have an opportunity to form an impression.

Wow with an Occasional Pow: While a predictable and consistent above average experience in and of itself is good enough, there are companies that stand out with truly amazing, over the top service. The service legends include companies like IBM (News - Alert), Nordstrom's and Lexus, just to name a few.

Confidence Creation: My formula for customer loyalty is simple: Great service + Confidence = Loyalty. Without confidence there is little or no chance for loyalty. Confidence comes from the Cult of Ownership. Once the experience is expected and predictable, confidence develops.

Practice Service Creativity: Find opportunities to improve the customer experience. Are your competitors doing something that you aren't? If so, don't copy them. Come up with your own version of what they are doing. Make it your own. Make it unique. Make it better.

Attention to Detail: Missing details may sometimes go unnoticed by a customer. However, when the smallest details are handled well, customers become impressed and confident.

Amazing Recovery: In the wake of adversity, you may have the best opportunity to create confidence. So, when there is a problem recovery becomes the key strategy to not just restoring confidence, but making it even stronger.

Starting Over: The best companies understand that they are only as good as the last sale.

To download a free copy of this informative white paper, "The Cult of the Customer," click here.