# 99. 3 Ways to Make Your Customer Calls Less Awkward (And Actually Useful)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/customer-success-career-coach-career-tips-and-proven-job-interview-strategies-for-every-customer-success-manager-6773565/99-3-ways-to-make-your-customer-calls-less-awkward-and-actually-useful
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/customer-success-career-coach-career-tips-and-proven-job-interview-strategies-for-every-customer-success-manager-6773565/99-3-ways-to-make-your-customer-calls-less-awkward-and-actually-useful.md
Podcast: [Customer Success Career Coach, Career Tips and Proven Job Interview Strategies For Every Customer Success Manager](https://stenobird.com/podcast/customer-success-career-coach-career-tips-and-proven-job-interview-strategies-for-every-customer-success-manager-6773565)
Published: 2025-12-17T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.carlyagar.com/
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/9cedf64f-cd6d-485e-9cbd-be8c5d95e7d6.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1161

## Resource

If your customer calls feel stiff, boring, or like both of you are counting down the minutes until it’s over, you’re not imagining it, and it’s costing you more than you think. That’s why in this episode, I’m breaking down the simple shifts that turn awkward, check-the-box customer calls into conversations your customers actually want to show up to. You’ll learn why leading with the wrong metrics kills trust instantly, how to frame topics in a way that gets customers leaning in instead of zoning out, and the exact conversational tactics top-performing CSMs use to sound confident, human, and in control (without following a rigid script). By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to run customer calls that feel natural, valuable, and genuinely strategic — the kind that deepen trust, uncover expansion signals, and make your job a whole lot easier. If you’re ready to stop filling airtime and start leading calls that actually move the needle, hit play and let’s dive in. 0:44 – Why “Check-the-Box” Customer Calls Are Sabotaging Engagement 3:01 – Why Starting with Product Metrics Makes Customers Zone Out (And How to Fix It) 6:46 – How to Introduce Topics So Your Customer Actually Wants to Participate 10:35 – Three Easy Tactics to Make Every Call Feel More Human and Less Scripted 14:44 – How “Tell Me More About That” Instantly Changes the Whole Conversation 16:45 – How Just One Small Change Per Month Can Make You the CSM Everyone Loves to Talk To 🛎️ FREEBIES & RESOURCES: Optimize your resume for Customer Success jobs to land consistent interviews with my FREE Training: https://customer-success-career.captivate.fm/resume Learn how to sell yourself as the best candidate & walk into your next Customer Success job interview with confidence with my FREE Training: https://c…

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