Perhaps you’ve made the leap into freelancing or you’ve just established your first small business. Congratulations! This is a fantastic and exciting step into entrepreneurship.

Many of us still confuse introversion with shyness – but this is not one and the same. Introverts do not ‘fear’ social situations or judgment, but simply find social interactions a tiring activity that can leave them feeling drained.

This extends to talking on the phone. The prospect of receiving a call or needing to make one is still a social activity and depending on length and subject matter it can leave an introverted business owner somewhat drained. There’s also an anxiety that stems from this, but while you’re getting your business off the ground it’s important to make those telephone calls to secure client work.

As you’re prospecting for new clients however, you might have noticed an almost-radio silence. Your communication is solely through LinkedIn and email, and you find yourself constantly staring at your inbox.

“Maybe I’ll just wait a bit longer.”

“I’ll wait for them to reply first.”

Sound like you? Unfortunately, your phone anxiety could be causing a decline in your sales due to these behaviors. Picking up the phone and making that cold call might just be the thing that makes your business break through and stay afloat.

How New Entrepreneurs Can Defeat Phone Anxiety for Faster Sales Growth

Maybe you don’t have the budget for a phone answering service to help you with inbound and outbound calls just yet. If this is the case, we’re going to talk you through how you can lessen phone anxiety and make your business thrive.

Remind yourself that prospective clients expect these calls

Many new business owners and freelances can feel like they’re “pestering” or “being annoying” by wanting to get in touch with a new prospect. Remind yourself that because these telephone numbers are stated on the companies’ sites you’re trying to target – that they are welcoming customer and business-to-business calls regularly.

Have a mock call conversation

The context of the call can make for a particularly draining situation and can rack up the anxiety if you anticipate a difficult conversation. Role-play the call to yourself (or a friend) ahead of time so you can go over all the points you wish to address. This way you can slightly desensitize before the real call and rehearse different responses to questions.

Make a list of things to mention on the phone so you’re prepared

Going straight on the phone can be a daunting prospect for anyone, no matter how skilled you are. Make a list of points to discuss to ensure you stick to the main reasons for your call and make it less likely to go off on a tangent. With an organized list introverts can ensure they’re only on the phone for as long as they need to be.

Shorten the gap

Maybe you’re an introvert who prefers to talk in person or via email. Remind yourself that in order to make these appointments quickly, or to deal with an urgent issue, it’s best to get on the phone. Making the call is half the battle, and naturally over time you’ll be accustomed to full telephone conversations with clients.

Remember that they can’t see you

The person on the other end of the line won’t notice you sweat with nerves or go red out of embarrassment over a little slip up. Nor do you have to make eye contact with the other person. Knowing this means the only things you need to focus on are the purpose of your call and your tone.

Final Thoughts

The telephone remains a powerful sales tool, even for introverted business owners. It’s the next best thing to being there in person.

Remind yourself that customers expect you to call. Your product or service solves a problem, so they will welcome a conversation. Use a list or script to stay organized and practice your conversations. Telephone sales with speed up your growth and get you where you want to be as a solopreneur or small business owner.

Christina Attrah is a Copywriter for Face for Business, a call answering service focused on offering first-class telephone answering solutions for your business.