Episode 50: The Art of Handling Complaints

<p class="p1">In Podcast Episode 50, “The Art of Handling Complaints” Kim discusses the challenges we all have in handling complaints and tips on how to handle them effectively.</p> <p class="p2"> </p> <p class="p1">The primary scripture text for this episode is Judges 8:1-3.</p> <p class="p2"> </p> <p class="p1">1 Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” And they argued heatedly with Gideon.</p> <p class="p2"> </p> <p class="p1">2 But Gideon replied, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer? 3 God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.</p> <p class="p2"> </p> <p class="p1">You are the recipient of the complaint because you are:</p> <ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Accused of doing or not doing something in a personal situation;</li> <li class="li1">The recipient of a complaint regarding the actions of someone with whom you are very close;</li> <li class="li1">In leadership and someone under you is accused of something;</li> <li class="li1">The owner of a business which did not live up to someone’s expectations;</li> <li class="li1">The customer service representative who handles complaints as part of your assignment;</li> <li class="li1">Not related to the focus of the complaint, but are the one with the listening ear.</li> <li class="li1">Other: _____________________.</li> </ul> <p class="p2"></p> <p class="p1">Challenges to Handling Complaints:</p> <ul class="ul1"><li class="li1">Separating the points of the complaint from the complainer;</li> <li class="li1">Filtering your own emotions, so that you can give a thought versus felt answer;</li> <li class="li1">Responding instead of reacting.</li> <li clas