Telemarketers face rejection, disappointment, anticipation, nervousness, and the daily grind of sitting in one place day after day, call after call. By making a conscious effort to reduce this stress, you can increase selling productivity and make telemarketing more rewarding.

Use A Headset. If you’re not already using a headset, ask your supervisor about purchasing them for your department. The increase in your productivity will more than justify the cost. Headsets prevent sore necks and backs which occur from constantly straining to hold the telephone between the ear and the shoulder while writing or looking up information. With a headset, both hands are free, you can move about freely, and as a rule, your posture will be better.

Don’t Stay At Your Desk. Don’t spend your lunch hours or breaks at your desk. Get away from the job for a bit. Get up, stretch, take a short walk. A change of atmosphere will work wonders and refresh your whole outlook for your next series of calls. When you make a call, gesture with your hands and arms. You’ll be surprised how much more animated you will sound.

Organize Your Time. You can reduce your stress with punctuality and organization. If you are late for work, don’t you get a knot in your stomach? And it gets your whole day off to a bad start. Get to work on time. Waking up just 15 minutes earlier in the morning can be a real stress reducer.

Keep Your Desk In Order. When you have a customer/prospect on the line, it’s upsetting to both of you if you have to fumble around looking for things. You could lose a sale and double your stress!

Know Your Products. The more you know about your products or service, the more confident you will be. With increased confidence, you can face any prospect’s inquiries with knowledge and skill. If there is anything you don’t understand about your company’s product or policies, ask!

Alleviate Personal Stress. Keep things in proper perspective when personal problems begin to dominate your life. Try to have a sense of humor. Of course, do your best to eliminate the causes of your personal stress before it affects your job performance. Some activities that aid stress reduction include meditation, hypnosis, yoga, biofeedback training, progressive relaxation and exercise. Decide which method best suits your lifestyle and personality.

Be Good To Yourself. All doctors agree that fatigue is one of the worst stress-producers. You must get the proper rest you need. Get plenty of exercise and eat a well-balanced diet to cope with daily stress. Avoid caffeine!

You can handle stress in your job and personal life. But it will take a little effort and concentrated planning. The results can bring a wonderful change to your work and your sales!