How to Be More Comfortable Taking Calls in an Open Office

When you work in an open office, everything happens in full view of your colleagues. If you have a problem speaking on the phone in front of other people, it can make for an uncomfortable work situation. By working on your phone skills, you can take calls without feeling exposed and embarrassed.

An open office can turn a phone call from a routine office occurrence into something to dread. If you jump every time the phone rings or find yourself avoiding calls, take a moment to conduct a reality check. You don't listen in on all of your colleagues' calls; chances are, they are too busy with their own workloads to listen in on yours. And, even if they do, they are probably not rooting for you to fail. When you're blowing the situation out of proportion mentally, it can be helpful to stop and gain perspective.

In an open office, it can be easy to lose your train of thought while you're on the phone. If you find yourself struggling for words or forgetting the purpose of the call, a written script can be helpful. If you get nervous answering the phone, write out a simple greeting. Make notes about topics to cover and, if need be, draft a script to help you broach difficult topics. If you falter during the phone call, simply read the appropriate script word for word; they can buy you enough time to help you gather your thoughts. Preparing for calls can help you avoid side topics and keep the conversation on track.

The sheer number of distractions in an open office can be troublesome during a call, particularly one that deals with complex issues. To make it more comfortable to handle the call, take a few minutes beforehand to review the information you'll need. Look through your notes, identify complexities and consider potential solutions. That way, when you're in the call, you'll feel more controlled and capable.

When your colleagues are listening in to every call you make, your shortcomings may feel glaringly obvious. This is particularly true for new professionals who aren't accustomed to dealing with people over the phone in a work setting. The only way to overcome this problem is to spend more time on the phone. When in doubt, speak slowly and clearly; the nerves that come from the open office environment can cause you to speed up and talk without thinking. Going slowly will make it easier to think and speak at the same time.

An open office will never be an ideal environment to take calls, but you can take steps to alleviate the discomfort. By working on your skills and taking time to collect your thoughts, you can take the pain out of professional calls.

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