Afraid of Phone Calls Here Are 8 Steps to Help You Beat Your Phone Phobia - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Afraid of Phone Calls Here Are 8 Steps to Help You Beat Your Phone Phobia - Introvert Whisperer Afraid of Phone Calls? Here Are 8 Steps to Help You Beat Your Phone Phobia Many introverts prefer text messages, social media, or email when contacting friends or customers. They have some time to think about what they’re going to write. They can restructure and revise all the information they’d like to provide. Finally, if nothing comes to mind, they have the option of responding with a simple “OK”, a gif, or a meme.   All of this with the added bonus of feeling safe and secure. Unfortunately, phone calls don’t offer the same luxury, and this can leave everyone, including introverts, feeling vulnerable or nervous. If you have an important phone call coming up, especially a business one with someone you dont know, there are a few things you can do to take the edge off. 1. Calm Yourself First Introverts often deal with anxiety surrounding social situations. Instituting a calming routine can help ease the jitters and switch the mind into a more social mode. Many introverts find that meditation helps. Clearing your mind, fully relaxing, and taking a few deep breaths can help you tamper down some anxiety. When you’re wound a little less tight, it’s easier to focus on the task at hand with a clear mind. Do whatever it is you do to relax or clear your mind â€" even if it’s a leisurely walk. 2. Write Notes and Take Them With You You might be worried that you’ll bungle something up or forget to mention something important â€" especially if you’re calling about a job interview or something equally as meaningful. Write notes about all the things you’d like to discuss, and keep them in front of you. If you’re not sure what to say or if you’re worried about something in particular, you’ll have a reference sheet. 3. Make Sure You’re Comfortable â€" Physically and Mentally Since a phone call can be done alone, there’s no reason to get all dressed up. If you’re most comfortable in your pajamas, take the phone call in your pajamas. Don’t wear a belt that digs into you or shoes that pinch your toes. Physical comfort can help promote mental comfort. Make the call from a place where you feel secure and wear something cozy. Calling someone in your pajamas might be a bit more difficult if you are in the office and have to make a business call to a client. However, even at work you can probably find that little corner behind the coffee machine that is both quiet and out of your coworkers earshot. If it is currently occupied by your introvert colleague, consider going to the bathroom. No worries, it turns out that 3 out of 4 people take their phones to the bathroom, so you will not look weird. If you cant do that either, just leave the office and talk on the corridor, or in front of the building. You will feel less stressed knowing that there is nobody there listening to your call. 4. Practice What You’re Going to Say Sometimes, saying the actual words aloud may help. You won’t be self conscious about the way you phrase things, the volume of your voice, or your intonation if you’ve said the same thing a few dozen times. Run through your talking points until you get tired of them. Memorize them so well that you could recite them in your sleep. Repetition will help dull the words down, making them less uneasy to say. This is helpful if your phone call is to place a counteroffer on real estate or request a promotion â€" situations in which you may need to project confidence. 5. Make a “Mock” Call to a Friend Doing something the second time never feels quite as stressful as it did initially. One smart way to relieve the stress connected with making a phone call is to make a “mock” one before the “real” one. Call a friend, a family member, or a coworker â€" someone you are comfortable talking to over the phone. You can just chat for a minute or two which will help you unwind and get into the phone conversation mood. Even better, if your mock caller is aware of your phone phobia, you might even practice the “real” phone call with them. Regardless of what you choose to talk about, typing in the phone number, hearing the ring tone, and then having to start the “mock” conversation will make it so much easier for you when you are starting the “real” one, two, or three minutes later 6. Utilize Your Energy Move around a little bit. Use your hands. Make facial expressions. Pace around when you’re on the phone. If you get nervous energy that builds up in the moment, use that energy as you talk. It won’t get pent up and affect your phone call. There’s nothing wrong with fidgeting â€" the person on the other end of the phone won’t see you. If you have nervous energy coping mechanisms, remember that you’re free to use them however you see fit. Phone calls offer a unique kind of privacy that might even be better than having a conversation in person. 7. Visualization May Help If your nervousness surrounding phone calls stems from the fact that you cannot see the person or let their physical cues and nonverbal communication shape the conversation, visualize the person. If you’re paying attention to the tone of their voice, it’s easier to imagine what they may look or the way they’re sitting. If you can picture yourself in front of the person and doing so would ease your anxiety, allow yourself to. Pull up a picture of the person if that aids in your visualization. 8. Give Yourself a Reward There are two reasons why you should schedule a reward for after your phone call. The first is that a reward is a motivation to do something successfully. You’re giving yourself an incentive to do something you don’t really want to do, which makes getting through the process a little more exciting. The second reason is that you’re building a positive association with something that makes you uncomfortable. Over time, when you reflect on the reward at the end, it might dull your unease with speaking on the phone. Plenty of people, introverts and extroverts alike, aren’t big fans of phone calls. If you work at improving your ability to speak on the phone little by little, things will become easier over time. Try utilizing as many techniques as possible to increase your chances of success. Audreys Bio: With over 9 years of experience working with customers, Audrey Robinson knows a thing or two about overcoming the fear of approaching and talking to the people one doesnt know. Currently supporting Maxo, phone communication experts, Audrey might often be found online, sharing her business tips with others. 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