fear of phones...

[AngelAmy]

for as long as i can remember i have had this fear of making phone calls or answering phone calls of people that i am not comfortable with/people i dont know. i got a new job recently and i havent had to answer phone yet but i know i will have to soon. just the mention of it sends me in an inside panic attack. i try not to show it but im sure my panic shows all over my face. i will do anything to avoid answering the phones but i dont know how much longer i will be able to avoid it. i really want to overcome this. dont even tell me that if i keep on doing it ill eventually get used to it.....i dont believe in that working...its a fear. i want it to go away so i can do my job right. HELP

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[JPMNICK]

PM me your number and I will prank call you will lewd comments and constant yelling. This will help you over come your fear.


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[Furtherman]

I hate the phone as well. I don't own a cell phone. I like to keep my calls short and to the point.

Picture them on the other line, sitting in their underwear.

If your dealing with clients or the public or anyone you don't know. Just remember - you are better than them. Don't talk down to them, but remembering that will help your end of the conversation move smoothly.

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[jeffdwright2001]

Possible solutions:

1. Practice with a "pretend phone" like the kind on wheels that little kids pull around on a cord. If that's too much like the real thing, consider a couple of cans and some string.

2. Picture the phone in its underwear

3. Consider the following:
Larry Stone, MFT
TherapistByPhone.org
1060 Solano Ave., #616
Albany, CA 94706
Tel: 510-526-1600

4. Since you type with no difficulty you might want to try:
http://web.ivenue.com/customphones/images/ATTTTY8840.jpg

[JPMNICK]

Are you afraid of saying the wrong thing or not knowing the answer? WHat exactly do you not like about it. Do you talk to friends a lot on the phone?

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[Jennitalia]

I've never been a phone person either. I just don't like talking on the phone.

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[AngelAmy]

i have no problems talking to friends...

i think my fear is maybe not having all the answers/doing something wrong...

i am not quite used to all the computer stuff going on in this job...i am sure id feel more comfortable if i knew what i was doing.

they want me to start answering phones and lie stand over my shoulder and if i need help they can help me....if i need to make a phone call in my own house i wont even do it if there is someone on the same floor as me, so that makes me nervous too.

whenever i actually get the guts to make a phone call at home, i write down everything im going to say...i still freak out inside though, just not as much.

people scare me.

<center>You can speak your mind but not on my time.
C*U*N*T
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[furie]

I too have a phone thing. i dislike talking on the phone to peple I don't know.


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[walking joint]

i have the same problem. my wife has to call the pizza/chinese or any type of dinner order we place. i just get all nervous. if i do make the call i pace around and have to be in a room by myself.

about 5 years ago i took a job working in a call center. the calls coming in i never minded, but didn't like making calls out to resolve issues. i worked there for 3 years and it still did nothing to ease my nerves about the phones. my legs would constantly shake as a nervous reaction.

in the position i'm in now I requested emails for all of my contacts telling them I prefer that method so I can keep a record of things...but the real reason is i don't like to call on the issues.

[zoom2457]

I have a fear of the people on the other end of the phone. I fear that they will be dumb and waste my time.

"Excuse me, excuse me I believe you have my stapler"

[AngelAmy]

if i do make the call i pace around and have to be in a room by myself.

that sounds just like me.

id like to become more comfortable with using the computers for all i would need before i have to answer phones and try to help people. i know its coming and im freaking out about it.

<center>You can speak your mind but not on my time.
C*U*N*T
[b]I'm doing the happy dance, I'm doing the happy dance.
<img src="http://wnewsgirl.homestead.com/files/treysig.gif">
<font color=blue>110% Shenannigans</font>

[Reephdweller]

I absolutely hate talking to customers on the phone. I did customer service phone calls for about 4 years and it was gruelling, at least callers on the east coast were anyway. They were extremely demanding and rude. They'd demand that you get it done and done yesterday. Sometimes we'd get routed calls from other parts of the country and it was pleasure because it was a complete 180 from the folks I'd normally deal with. You could say, like "unfortunately we won't have that for you today, there was a delay" and the customers would be like "well okay, i really needed it today, but okay". Meanwhile the regular callers would make it seem like the world was going to spin off it's axis if they didn't get what they wanted.

One thing I did get out of it though was that I handled every kind of call from the friendliest to the absolute rudest person imaginable. In a weird way it does toughen you and make you stronger. I'm not saying it's the same for you, and I don't think you'll be getting the same kinds of calls I got, but the more often you talk on the phone and handle people the easier I believe it will be.

My first few irate calls I honestly believed I would never be able to handle it. Many times I wanted to quit, but I continued and eventually I got tougher and more confident on the phones. I'm not a phones person myself, but I am a lot better than I used to be.

One thing that worked for me that you might want to do as well (since I know the work you're doing). Is to slowly build a file of notes and various procedures as you learn them. What I mean is, if you don't understand how to do something and then you do learn it. Make a note for yourself, either on a legal pad or in a folder in your desk and then you can refer to it the next time it comes up. More often than not there will be a number of things you will discover that are largely repetitive. Once you know how to do those things you will find things better better and easier, and your condifence level will increase.

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[Melrapuo]

I don't have a fear of making phone calls. But when someone calls I'm reluctant to pick up, only because I am lazy. Not just that, but when your caller I.D. needs batteries, and a call comes in, you're afraid its either someone from the marines trying to recruit you or phone spamming.

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[billyio]

I hate speaking on the phone as well. My friends and my brother,who is stationed in Hawaii always ask me why I don't call...well,I just hate the phone! I usually just scan the calls. I happen to think no calls are good calls,kind of like my theory on no mail=good mail.

See Ya!

[sr71blackbird]

Amy, I have had the same problem all my life, but when I took the job I have now, I had to overcome it. Most calls will go smooth, but once in a while youll get a pain in the ass on the horn that is just looking for a fight. Just be professional, courteous and non confrontational (as I know you already are) and youll be fine. Im not saying you wont feel uncomfortable, but remember that old saying "you get more with sugar than you get with salt". Dont panic! The caller might be mean, but you dont have to put up with being yelled at, the company isnt paying you to take abuse. Your there to answer calls and help the customer, but not to be their door mat. If they start in, just be nice and say "Sir/Mam, you dont have to speak to me like that, I am trying to help you". If they keep at it, they are the ones being unprofessional, and you should refer them to your supervisor. Remember, people act big when they have the safety of being on the other side of a receiver. The company cant fire you if your nice and professional. But if you went the other way, they can penalise you. I know you wont be that way, so just be the sweet girl you are and try to help them. "Im trying to help you" usually calms people down. As they taught me, you are the one controlling the call.

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