Pest control – what’s in a word? The importance of explaining pest control clearly
Key takeaway:
The role of a pest controller involves dealing with a diverse range of customers with varying needs and abilities. One of the essential skills for a pest controller is the ability to effectively communicate and engage with customers from all walks of life. This requires active listening and understanding to address their pest issues. While highly educated individuals may excel in many areas, the skill of connecting with diverse customers is not guaranteed. Additionally, documenting conversations in writing helps customers reference important information, especially those who struggle with listening or focusing. Pest controllers often employ different words and phrases to convey the same message, aiding comprehension for customers with different learning styles. Although some may consider this repetition as tautology, it is a valuable technique for enhancing understanding, particularly for those who find instructions and words challenging in the first place.
The Role of Clear Communication in Pest Control Professionals
Pest controllers deal with a very broad range of customers who have very differing needs, skills, and abilities. Customers of all ages, from all sorts of backgrounds.
Vulnerable customers, highly educated customers, customers whose first language is not English, business customers, carers, tenants, and landlords.
Calm customers, stressed customers, angry customers, nice customers and, frankly, unpleasant customers.
One of the main skills for a pest controller is to be good with people from all walks of life.
How Clear Communication Strengthens Pest Control Efforts
Pest controllers need to be able to engage with such a broad range of customers and to ensure that they are listening and understand what plans are put in place to address their pest issues.
This can be challenging, and it takes time and experience to be able to deal with such a broad spectrum of customers. It’s a skill and not one that even the most highly educated in society can accomplish.
The written word is very important as it creates a record of what was discussed with a customer.
It’s obviously not possible to detail an entire conversation but key aspects of a conversation and important elements should be drawn out and put in writing to enable the customer to refer to, particularly if they have difficulty in listening or focussing on what’s being said to them.
Why Clear Explanations are Crucial in Pest Control
Often a pest controller may say the same thing more than once, using different words, which can help customers to understand in different ways.
They often clarify or reinforce the meaning of an instruction.
Although some might say repeating information in different ways is more confusing than helpful, this is often by those who find words and understanding instruction easy in the first place!
Wordsmiths call this “tautology”.
“What’s the first excellence in a lawyer? Tautology. What the second? Tautology. What the third? Tautology.” Sir Richard Steele
If you need pest control in Herefordshore or Worcestershire, give PGM & SON a call. We know how clear communication strengthens pest control efforts, so if you have pests, we have it covered!
We are PGM & SON, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Pest Control Services, driving excellence in Pest Management. Our BPCA membership proves we’re committed to excellence in every part of our business. Get in touch today for help, support and guidance. Telephone 01981 540088 or Mobile 07964 370480 or email us contact@pgmpestcontrolc.co.uk with your questions.
