boss makes me nervous

LegacyUser

Im on a work placement in a big IT company in Galway.
Thing is, I haven't been getting a good nites sleep since I actually started (because Im worried / stressed that I wont be able to do the job and get my projects done etc).. So I can lack concentration during the day. A few days ago the boss asked me to photocopy something and I photocopied the wrong stuff he said it didnt matter but I felt bad...
Im also doing a 'fone survey, but I cant get the courage to use the 'fone when hes there... as he sits right behind me- makes me so nervous. Im getin the work done as the boss is only part-time, But i think he might start thinking im not a very good worker
any advice? Thanx for reading this

ferdi

tell him. he'll probably laugh his head off and leave you alone.

JoeKelly

Yea i agree if you tell him he'll probably understand! Most people get nervous when the boss is around so dont worry too much about it!

bbbbb

Sounds like you need to relax a little, work shouldn't be that stressful.

If you're on a placement, you're probably fairly junior, so it's ok not to know stuff or to have to ask for help. A boss will be happier if you ask when you need to rather than not get the job done. As has been said before, you probably just need to talk to him.

galwaydude18

Ya relax about it! I'm sure that he's not trying to make you nervous at all. Just tell him that he is if it continues to happen... What company are you working for?

DonkeyStyle \o/

but I cant get the courage to use the 'fone when hes there... as he sits right behind me- makes me so nervous.

Urgh, this whole over-your-shoulder thing is it?
I find that somehow unnerving aswell... I'm sure there's some deep psychological reasoning behind it... even people I trust 100% make me a bit edgy if they stand behind me watching for too long. :eek:
Added to the fact that you have to perform infront of him, and impress... well you get over it... I worked in a call center where (when I was still new) my teamleader listened remotely to a lot of my calls, even sitting beside me giving out shít to me about things you can and can't say.
I'd suggest you just get it over with... once your boss sees that you're handling things well, then he won't need to observe your work (if that's what he's doing or if that's what's freaking you out)... don't let it build up in your mind as a big issue, nip it as soon as you can... ripping off the plaster as opposed to peeling it off slowly, if you know what I mean.
I don't get the whole needing courage thing though, I mean... if it's your job, then just do it... if you do it well, then there's no problem... if you're doing something wrong, then you can be helped with it.
It's win;win either way.
The only way you lose here is to keep prolonging the agony of this issue... letting the head-f*ck grow and grow... feeling like an asshole because it looks like you're doing nothing when the boss is around.
Break through the barrier... and as the other people here have said... talk to him about it, at least that way if the worst case scenario happens and you're a quivering mess on the phone because the boss is there, then you'll have some excuse
It'll be fine, just stay cool.

goooooosfraabaaaa :P

Etain

Try writing out a basic script for your phone calls. Practice saying it aloud at home. You'll get comfortable saying it. When you are on a call, focus on the person on the phone. The more calls you make, the easier it will become and the more relaxed you will be. Good Luck.

koneko

The problem here doesn't sound like your boss, but you (I know that sounds harsh).

You haven't given any examples of anything your boss has done to make you feel uneasy. In fact, when you did something wrong, he was understanding and not angry.

This is something you're going to need to get over. If you have a serious issue with him sitting near you, talk to him about it, but in time you're going to have to adjust and get over this, work isn't always going to be a picnic and you can't always have everything exactly as you want it.

koneko

Also Etain's suggestions are very good for getting over phone-fobias. If you don't like making phone calls like that, writing out a script or rehearsing the conversation in your head can really help.

Repli

If you are on work placement, you are probably nearly finished the 6 months by now? If it's bothering you that much, just leave when the placement is complete! No job is worth losing sleep over

seamus

Are you female, is he male? Are you attracted to him? (Serious question)

Souperfreak

koneko wrote:

The problem here doesn't sound like your boss, but you (I know that sounds harsh).

I agree it sounds like you are working yourself up for no reason. Relax. Tray using a script. Nine times out of ten the boss is so wrapped up in their own stuff they don't even notice. HONESTLY. I am a temp and I am sitting in an office with 2 girls who I am technically in charge of and since we are all in the same room if they are asking me a quesiton I generally don't hear it because I am focused on what I am working on. They usually have to say my name a couple times to get me to hear them. Because there are 3 of us in the room I tune out the noise around me. I would say your boss does the same.

My advice is don't be self - conscious and do your job. The boss will probably only notice if you are not doing your job. And if the boss corrects you on what you say on a phone call listen to the feedback, and say thank you I appreciate the input then try to do what they ask. But you have to relax or you will jsut freak yourself out and then make a mistake cause you are nervous and not because you can't do your job!

WhiteWashMan

polly888 wrote:

Im on a work placement in a big IT company in Galway.
Thing is, I haven't been getting a good nites sleep since I actually started (because Im worried / stressed that I wont be able to do the job and get my projects done etc).. So I can lack concentration during the day. A few days ago the boss asked me to photocopy something and I photocopied the wrong stuff he said it didnt matter but I felt bad...
Im also doing a 'fone survey, but I cant get the courage to use the 'fone when hes there... as he sits right behind me- makes me so nervous. Im getin the work done as the boss is only part-time, But i think he might start thinking im not a very good worker
any advice? Thanx for reading this

as koneko said, i reckon its just you being worried about the job.

and you know, thats ok.

you just havent worked up the experience, so everything is new and you are afraid of making a mess of it. well, dont.

you will make a cock up of it. so what. as long as you learn from it, no decent human being is going to hold it against you. of course, if you do the same thing 5 times in a row, youre probably on thin ice

seriously, if you have a problem, then talk to your boss. they will understand you are nervous, and will help you out.

hell, i have to fly to ireland tomorrow, and have 2 meetings. ive held meetings before, but im still nervous as hell about it, becuase with these im out of my comfort zone. but you know, sooner i do it, the sooner i get better at it.
just make sure youa re prepared.
and having a script is preperation. if you know what you are going to say, then whats the problem?
just relax, take a deep breath, and tell yourself that its ok to make a tit of yourself sometime
i'll be saying it constantly tomorrow!