Phone anxiety at work

Email got you this far. Then the job needs a call: a client, a supplier, your manager. Here is how to get through it.

before a work call

Write your first sentence
Write the one thing you need from the call
Keep the details in front of you
Say it out loud once before you dial

build a script

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Rehearse the call in murmur
before you make it.

Before a call: the scenario 'ask boss for time off' with three things to try, while the call connects

Why work calls are worse

At work the call has an audience: an open office, a colleague in earshot, a manager who will hear how it went. You also can't choose when. The phone rings and you are on.

Make the first ten seconds automatic

Decide your opening line and say it until it is boring. "Hi, this is ... from ..., I'm calling about ..." carries you past the moment your mind would go blank. After that you are answering questions, which is easier than starting.

Know what a good call looks like

Before you dial, write down the one thing you need: a date, a yes, a name. If you get it, the call worked, however clumsy it felt.

Rehearse the ones you can see coming

Asking for time off, asking for a raise, handing in your notice. These calls are predictable, which means you can practice them.

Call in SickTell your manager you are unwell and won't be in, without over-explaining. Ask About a Job ApplicationCheck on an application you sent, politely, and find out when you might hear back. Schedule a Job InterviewReturn a recruiter's call and agree a time, sounding clear and prepared. Accept a Job OfferSay yes clearly, and confirm the details before you hang up. Phone ScreenHandle that first HR call with confidence and make a great impression. Follow Up After an InterviewMake that thank-you call that sets you apart from other candidates. Nail Your InterviewShow them why you're the perfect fit with confident, authentic answers. Ask for Work Schedule ChangeRequest a different shift without jeopardizing your job. Ask for a ReferenceRequest a reference from a professor or former boss confidently. Ask Boss for Time OffRequest vacation days or personal time without guilt. Ask for Internship FeedbackGet honest feedback from your supervisor to improve and grow.

murmur is practice, not treatment. If anxiety is getting in the way of your work or daily life, talk to a doctor or a therapist.

Questions

How do I deal with phone anxiety at work?

Prepare the first sentence and the one thing you need from the call, then say them out loud once before you dial. Most of the dread sits in the first ten seconds.

Is it unprofessional to use a script on a work call?

No. Notes in front of you make you clearer and quicker. Nobody on the other end can see them.

Rehearse the call before you dial

murmur is on the App Store, for iPhone.

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