Lack of confidence damaging co op

LegacyUser

I started a co op with a company at the start of september up to christmas as part of my college course. The role involves dealing with customers as a professional, while being supervised. I have always suffered from a lack of confidence and it was something that I was aware could be a problem so I studied well last year and did well in my exams, hoping this would help alleviate my nerves.
Having been there a month, I met with my supervisor who said that while Im doing well, and clearly have knowledge, I need to be more confident in my work and start being more independent. My problem is whenever Im talking to a customer, I feel like Im inferior to the supervisor and feel like im not qualified to be dealing with them. I end up questioning what information im giving and asking the supervisor if theres anythign they want to add. I have tried to work on this by preparing myself the night before by swatting up on the case that Ill be dealing with but when it comes to the actual client I end up doubting the information im going to give, and because im so afraid of saying the wrong thing, I clam up and say feck all! The nerves are coming from the fact that this co op counts towards my degree so its essential I pass, and Im so afraid of failing that Im nervous, which affects my performance, making it more likely that ill fail! I dont think Im failing yet but I cant keep going like this, help#!

FurBabyMomma

Have you heard of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)? It works in a way that breaks you out of the pattern of failure your mind has set you up to expect and works on channelling your mind towards more positive outcomes. I saw a really good coach for 3 sessions as I was so afraid of failing a course I wouldn't/couldn't attempt any of the coursework. I fell behind to the point of almost being kicked out. Fast forward two years and I'm fully qualified I'd research a good practitioner in your area and give a few sessions a go (I think some of them do specific confidence building courses too) - you've got nothing to lose. And before anyone starts I was very sceptical about it before I did the sessions but they really helped me stop my mind repeating the familiar pattern of failure I was stuck in.

Rubberchikken

start small.
you're supervisor has said you're doing well, now you just need to up that confidence.
you have it, it's just hiding. when you're dealing with a customer, breathe deeply and tell yourself you can do this.
give whatever information is required to the customer, and then stop. don't go to the supervisor. go over what's been done and see what positives, and negatives if any, you can find.

see if you can be happy with that outcome. as more of these occurances happen, your confidence will grow.

good luck

Buona Fortuna

Hi OP,

Some good points above.

I sympathise with the lack of confidence. Its funny how some people can just talk the hind legs off a donkey. Often if you really listen to what they're saying, a lot is b/s and there's also a lot of repetition.

When I was working, I had to do quite a bit of public speaking as well as meeting customers. It can be quite daunting. I dealt with it by having about 4 longish paragraphs that I could give without thinking. They were inter-linked so I could mix and match according to circumstance - but while I did that, it gave me time to think.

I wish you well OP