Tips for complaining

Here are six rules to follow when lodging a complaint:

1. Deal with people and companies that care about their reputations. Otherwise, you're wasting everyone's time.

2. Be certain you're on solid ground before making a complaint. Was the situation real - or a misunderstanding.

3. Don’t complain to non-decision makers.

4. Remember that the way you complain is as important as who you complain to.

5. Keep a firm hand on your temper.

6. Don’t complain about everything. Pick your battles.

A skillfully executed, well-timed complaint can do wonders for the one who speaks and often for the one who listens. Complaints can be a powerful source of good information for companies who want to learn how to improve.