Final answer:
Effective communication is a key skill involved in customer service, necessary for building positive relationships and offering exceptional service to both customers and internal figures like managers. It is paired with an understanding of civility, cultural competence, and financial literacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the National Retail Federation, customer service involves a variety of skills among which effective communication is critical. Strong communication skills are emphasized not only in customer service but across various fields like engineering, indicating their universal importance in the workplace. Being proficient in communicating means having the ability to initiate, establish, and maintain positive relationships with both internal and external customers. This leads to enhanced job satisfaction and can create new opportunities.
A notable aspect of communication in a professional setting is the concept of treating your manager as an important internal customer. Offering exceptional customer service to your manager can garner positive feedback and aid in career advancement. Moreover, communication is intertwined with other aspects such as civility, cultural competence, and financial literacy, which are all valuable to understand in the context of providing effective customer service.