Just Started A New Job - Fatique And Pressure

[Scandinavgirl]

I just started a new job within telecommunications 10 days ago. I have never worked within the area before (this is within sales) and I am actually an academic. But since it is so difficult for me finding a relevant job, I decided to give this a chance, thinking that I would like to develop my communications skills as well as making ok money if I was fairly good at it. You are paid by the hour (but very little) and there is provision.

After saying yes to the job I started to panic - this was way to unstable for me and way to uncertain. But I decided it was worth trying since being without a job is also hard. I do get to work with my self-motivation and inner talk during the day - because you have to stay motivated and positive no matter what. I notice how I am becoming stronger that way, and that feels good.. But at the same time the pressure is high. My boss may be expecting me to make more sales soon, he seems stressed out if we are having a bad day, and I feel like he is just about giving up on me. He is sending mixed signals: He tells me I made a sale quicker than he did in his first salesjob, but at the same time he is pushing me and my colleagues and sending signals about us not being good enough, if we dont make enough sales. I know that if I dont start to make more sales by the end of the week, I will probably loose faith in this and maybe also loose my job/getting fired. My focus is at giving my best perfomance and not making the most sales, but I have some "people pleaser" syndrome stuff that is making it hard to be consistent with the costumer, and I am starting to loose faith. I struggle with extreme fatique in weekends and today for example, I am at home with my sick child - I can barely make it up of the coach. I am hoping its only a phase, but it seems a bit to much being THIS tired.

On the positive side, I like my colleagues and I like talking to customers at the phone. I am still fairly motivated, but at the same time I am considering quitting this job, because it is so hard on many levels.

Just needed to write this down and share it with someone. Any comments and any ideas on how to keep up the good spirit?

 

[candor]

Is it possible for you to ignore how your boss reacts? Seriously his job is to get you to do more sales at any cost. You can't possibly know what is going thru his head. Your job is to take care of you. Keep smiling at him and don't let on that anything has you worried.

What do you use to charge up? I use lamp lights for energy, go to the sauna (bring your child), get someone to give me a massage, eat those very dark green veggies as soups, go to yoga, listen to music or meditate and cut down on any toxic stuff until my stress levels normalise. As hard as it may seem, you need to not think that you will or might loose your job as that can be way too exhausting. I would always put some money aside for a short vacation which I always gave myself whenever I got fired. Also minimise the housework in anyway you can. Our health and stress level should be our main concern.

 

[candor]

hej Scandinavgirl, did you mean to add something? Just curious ;-)

 

[StarChild]

but at the same time he is pushing me and my colleagues and sending signals about us not being good enough, if we dont make enough sales.

Could you elaborate how exactly he does send the signals you've mentioned? Is it by gesture, facial expression or...what exactly? And is he really doing this, or is it your anxiety (you wrote that you have a people pleaser syndrome) that makes you feel the way you feel now?

 

[Born to Run]

I would always put some money aside for a short vacation which I always gave myself whenever I got fired.

LOL sorry, but this is sooo funny to me :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

 

[Scandinavgirl]

hej Scandinavgirl, did you mean to add something? Just curious ;-)

Ups...yes..my post did not come through. I just wanted to thank you for the advices. My big problem is my anxiety for failing and my my people pleaser syndrome;) I know I have to concentrate more on my self and not be so hypersensitive about signals from others (especially my boss).

 

[Scandinavgirl]

Could you elaborate how exactly he does send the signals you've mentioned? Is it by gesture, facial e...

It is by gestures, facial expressions but also by putting pressure on me and the whole team by telling us we have to higher our energy when things are not going great. When we are not performing in relation to the daily goals he set for us, he is writing (-) in front of our names at the board, and of course (+) if we are doing good. So we are constantly measured on our performances. But I try to think he is on my side - that he wants me to succeed. And he told me this today btw, that he wants me to succeed and that I am developing...so thats good. I am still stressed out about fearing not to perform good enough, but I guess I just have to do my best....At least I actively get to work on some personal issues in this job;)

 

[Scandinavgirl]

So I think it is a combination between my anxiety and reality (the fact that HE IS putting pressure on us) that causes me the problems.

 

[candor]

So I think it is a combination between my anxiety and reality (the fact that HE IS putting pressure...

Try saying this to your boss:
"It is my job to do the best I possibly can and I never want to put you in the uncomfortable position of having to fire me.[or whatever else you are afraid of happening] "
(Then put on your most confident grin and say) :
"And I expect you to do your job and fire me if I do fail you as that is your job.Thank you for believing and encouraging me. It is appreciated."
After that just do your best and keep smiling never letting on that you have any worries.

You can't control what will happen next but I bet you 1000 DKK that you will feel better if you say this to him. The only thing in your control is that fear you carry with you. Imagine yourself being fearless and do 10 times your "I am fearless" mantras every morning and night . :) What have you done in the past that has worked to lessen your fears?

 

[Kintsugi]

The slave driver head of sales guy archetype is a common trope in that industry, really. It is their job to act forever unsatisfied, to always push harder, to issue threats, etc. I couldn't work in that field, because I know that's how it's operated. The guys who sell cars on a lot? You can bet they attend weekly mandatory "pep talks" with their bosses and are constantly being told to sell, sell, sell!

This is an oft-referenced scene from a movie about such an industry:

I would either ignore your boss (seriously, you can bet this is just what he does all the time) or look for a different source of income. Waiters and waitresses and other food industry lackies get this all the time, too. I've attended meetings coaching me how to upsell food/drink products that I know are bad or overpriced or unnecessary. I never liked it. "Would you like fries with that?" is practically a cliche in the states, but its purpose is to sell something to someone that they don't really want or need. When a server tries to push an appetizer at a restaurant because it's just so good or a daily special or her favorite or available for a limited time, she doesn't actually care, she just wants you to spend more money (and get a bigger tip because of the percentage rule of thumb), AND there is probably a general manager behind the scenes who is constantly on her back about selling more of a food that's about to expire or is overstocked etc.

It's all just a game--a sales game. I can sell sand in the desert, but I absolutely hate that mentality. I'm really glad I don't do anything like that anymore. My stress is much reduced.

Good luck to you.

 

[Ocean5]

I use to work in sales, then sales management. Try not to worry. While I would "never" put up a board with people's names, nor do I think companies I worked for would allow such a practice.

It's very tiring for employees to management. Maybe this just isn't right company for you. Use it to gain skills and contacts, then maybe move on later to another company. Or even take over boss's job. Just try not to stress. Learned the skills. Plus once you are their longer you may decide to stay.

Your boss is under a lot of pressure daily from their boss. As a manager first thing I saw each morning was something from my boss about previous day's performance for unit. He'd send them to each manager around 5am each day! How we started each day. Even though I managed their top store. Always the push to do more. No matter the industry.

 

[Scandinavgirl]

I use to work in sales, then sales management. Try not to worry. While I would "never" put up a board wit...

Interesting to hear. I think it is a weird practise - putting us on the board like that. Plus, it is noticeable for everyone who enters the room. So your skills are visible for everyone working in the building. It is of course satisfying when you get a + or you can write one more sale at the board beside your name, but it is not really motivating. My motivation is to master this job and of course get a decent pay, not to compete with others. I want the sales experience to be good both for customer and me. I do struggle, as part of my people-pleasing syndrome, to get out of my comfort-zone and not "only be nice and sweet" but also find ways in talking the customer into buying something. And I guess this is healthy for me. But I have to do it in a way so I can stand looking at myself in the mirror every evening also. Anyway, I will give it to the end of the month, then take an evaluation of how it is going. Maybe the pressure is to hard on me.

But my strength in all this, is that I have got so much bad critique and being yelled on and hit at in my life, that I am kind of immune when it comes to acidic customers;) Thank you for the advices.