I hate phones as well but I've developed myself a ritual for alleviating th burden of anxiety-causing calls. Maybe this helps someone else as well:
1. Take pen and paper
2. Write a brief script how to start the call. Just sufficient amount of notes that you have a clear and concise agenda
3. During call take notes
4. If you don't understand something, repeat for the other party what they've said. Not in a way that it can be understood you agree with them as this can become a really problem with business dicussions, but using phrasing as "Can I repeat what you said so I am clear on this. According to you..."
5. At the end of the call, if there are topics that should be handled by you or the other party, review what was agreed topic by topic.
I generally find people appreciate this structured approach in calls. At least it reduces most of the anxiety from my part to minimum.
1. Take pen and paper
2. Write a brief script how to start the call. Just sufficient amount of notes that you have a clear and concise agenda
3. During call take notes
4. If you don't understand something, repeat for the other party what they've said. Not in a way that it can be understood you agree with them as this can become a really problem with business dicussions, but using phrasing as "Can I repeat what you said so I am clear on this. According to you..."
5. At the end of the call, if there are topics that should be handled by you or the other party, review what was agreed topic by topic.
I generally find people appreciate this structured approach in calls. At least it reduces most of the anxiety from my part to minimum.