Every customer experience involves both a business and a customer. Obvious I know, but we spend almost 100% of our time talking about how we can create better experiences for our customers, while barely acknowledging that being a good customer is also a skill worth developing.

With a little effort on our part we can have better experiences more of the time and at lower prices, avoid the risk of high blood pressure, and enjoy a sense of smug satisfaction that we’re the exception to the rules.

The secret — having observed many charismatic people in action — is to forget you're a customer altogether and treat everyone as if they're a close friend, trustworthy confidant or willing accomplice, not a hapless minion there to do your bidding. 

Here are some simple examples of things you can easily do to transform your experience as a customer: 

Be polite. 
Get to know people by name. 
Be grateful. 
Pay it forward — most people like to reciprocate. 
Appeal to people’s better nature. 
Co-conspire. 

Countless free upgrades to flights, hotel rooms, hire cars, refunds that are against company policy, jumping queues, and exceptional priority service all point to one conclusion - if you really want a great customer experience, try being a great customer first.

See this post on LinkedIn