Working Tips for Call Center Service Agents

Call center services and business outsourcing agencies are highly dependent on their workforce. People working as executives have to work hard to maintain the productivity and efficiency of the business. However, in the current world, it is very easy to lose motivation due to distractions already spread out on a larger scale. Therefore, the question lies, “How can someone train themselves to be productive no matter what?”

In particular, we will discuss how call center service agents can train themselves to be biologically productive while working in call center support service. There are a few activities a person can practice to wire their brains to be naturally healthy and be active for longer. The health of every human is divided into 2 major aspects - mental and physical. By following a few below-mentioned pointers one can be prepared to be more productive.

Here are some natural ways to improve productivity, such as:

Get Enough Sleep: Make sure you are getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Proper rest is crucial for physical and mental well-being. Not only that, you must ensure you are getting sound sleep. Being lying tense in bed for several hours and being completely relaxed are two very different things so ensure your body gets enough rest it needs to function properly.

Exercise Regularly: Regular exercise can improve cognitive function and energy levels, making you more productive. It is understandable, exercising is not everyone’s cup of tea but that doesn’t mean you can do anything about it. Just 30 minutes of brisk walking or avoiding elevators for 2 or 3 floors and choosing stairs can bring drastic changes.

Eat a Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best. On top of that, eating healthy doesn’t mean you can eat loads of amount. A lot of people may never realize that quantity plays a bigger role in maintaining a healthy weight.

Practice Stress Management: Chronic stress can negatively impact productivity. Try to incorporate stress-reducing activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga into your daily routine. Working in a call center service can be very stressful, to be honest, and it can take a toll on your mental peace so first, you should do is to learn how to manage stress.

Set Realistic Goals: Setting achievable goals can help you stay focused and motivated, leading to increased productivity. Resentment, disappointment, and guilt are powerful negative things that can instantly drain the life out of you. Don’t let that happen, and the first thing you can do to avoid these things by accepting reality and adapt to it.

Remember, it's important to take care of yourself and not push yourself beyond your limits. We as human beings are biologically wired to survive in our natural habitat and anything that comes in the disguise of convenience is an inconspicuous threat to our well-being. Therefore, learn to live with reality and set achievable goals.

So, our bodies and mind require work and ample rest but some amount of exertion too to maintain a proper balance.

Read More: 7 Effective Tips to Motivate Your Inbound Call Center Agents

Training the Brain to be Productive

Some people tend to reboot themselves before participating in their daily activities, especially in the morning. For instance, some people tend to expect nothing to interrupt their early morning coffee while they try to make up their minds to be ready for the day.

However, relying solely on caffeine may not be the most effective solution. Other factors come into play in determining our productivity levels throughout the day, some of which are beyond our control. And it is not always wise to think we can control everything.

To enhance productivity, it is crucial to understand our unique biology and utilize it to our advantage. Some psychiatric experts advise on how to improve focus, productivity, and wakefulness. We may all share the same analogy but we are wired differently.

Also Check: How to Train Agents of Virtual Call Center, Remotely

Let us learn how to biologically train our minds and body to perform optimally.

Identify Your Chorotype

Three scientists who studied molecular mechanisms that control circadian rhythms were awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Their research revealed that mismatches between external environments and internal biological clocks could negatively impact one's well-being and increase the risk of disease.

Furthermore, people don't all operate on the same biological clock, as there are three different chronotypes: AM-shifted (20%-25% of the population), Bi-phasic (over 50% of the population), and PM-shifted (15%-20% of the population).

AM-shifted individuals are early birds who function best in the morning and wake up early, regardless of their sleep quantity. PM-shifted individuals are night owls whose energy peaks in the evening, making it challenging to accomplish meaningful work in the morning and early afternoon.

The Bi-phasic chronotype, while less commonly discussed, is the most prevalent and involves having two energy peaks throughout the day: a slow start in the morning, followed by a peak, a dip in energy, and a second wind at the end of the day. According to Yousef, determining your chronotype is the first step in maximizing your energy and productivity, and a quiz can help confirm your suspected chronotype.

Take Full Leverage of Your Biological Plus Points

This advice is based on the idea that people have different biological rhythms, or chronotypes, that affect their cognitive and physiological functioning at different times of the day.

●By identifying their chronotype, individuals can structure their daily schedules to optimize their performance and productivity.

●According to this advice, people should identify the two to three hours each day when they are cognitively and physiologically at their best and protect that time to get into a flow state.

●During this peak time, individuals should tackle important, high-stakes tasks that require focus and creativity.

●In contrast, during the late-afternoon dip, when cognitive performance may be lower, individuals should focus on simpler administrative tasks.

This advice emphasizes the importance of working with one's natural rhythms rather than trying to fight against them. By understanding their chronotype, individuals can design their daily routines to maximize their productivity and effectiveness.

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Rejuvenative Napping

Scientifically speaking, taking a nap can be beneficial, and contrary to popular belief, it doesn't result in a loss of productivity. According to experts, a true power nap lasts 20 minutes, and using a timer can prevent the groggy feeling that often accompanies oversleeping. Even agents working at call center services should be using this technique to pull themselves together during over workload.

If you are sleep deprived, a nap of up to 90 minutes can help you get through the day, but anything more may not be as effective. For an even better nap experience, Yousef recommends a "cappuccino," which involves drinking coffee before taking a nap. The caffeine takes about 15 minutes to enter your bloodstream and can enhance the benefits of your rest by providing a super-boost upon waking up.

Read more: Creative Approaches to Train Call Center Agents

Let There Be Light

Experts suggest that humans are light-responsive beings and our hormonal responses are triggered by exposure to bright light, blue light, and natural light. To regulate our circadian rhythm and facilitate earlier and easier sleep, she recommends 10 to 15 minutes of natural or bright white light exposure upon waking up, preferably by going outside for sunlight. This applies to all chronotypes.

It is beneficial to have as much light exposure throughout the day as possible, including exposure to sunset. However, in the evening, it is essential to avoid blue and white light, and major sources of these lights come from phones, TVs, laptops, and overhead lights in kitchens and bathrooms. Every type of light has a certain effect on us so make sure you are exposed to brighter white light when you are trying to be more attentive and productive.

Using softer, warm bulbs or lamps in the evenings, instead of bright overhead lights, can significantly impact our sleep by signaling to our brain that the sun is setting soon and melatonin production needs to begin. This is especially important for setting the body's internal clock. The reason is that your body should know when it needs to come to a relaxing position for getting effective rest and be ready for the next day.

Also Check: How can inbound call center agents enhance their performance?

Go Easy on Caffeine

According to experts, while pre-nap coffee can be advantageous, people need to use caffeine prudently and be mindful of its effects. However, if you're currently holding onto a cup of coffee tightly, the following information may not be to your liking. Too much caffeine could have adverse health effects too. Sometimes, it is linked to insomnia and it can also lead to brain fog in many people. Anything in large quantities can have negative effects.

Therefore, experts suggest waiting at least one and a half hours after waking up before consuming coffee or any form of caffeine. This can optimize and enhance your energy levels while also helping to regulate your sleep cycle by reducing your dependence on caffeine in the morning. Additionally, Yousef believes that this practice can lead to improved mood and energy levels upon waking up.