Hi!
Something I think is really important when it comes to putting yourself out there and approaching any task is confidence. Not just in yourself, but in your work and your skills.
Believing that you are capable of doing something and that you should be doing something will get you far. There are going to be some stories that go smoothly and others that run into quite a few obstacles. What I've learned over the past few weeks is that all of it is normal. Just because something is challenging does not mean you are doing it wrong or you aren't working hard enough.
Another way confidence comes into play is when you are looking for information. I needed to get police reports for a story I was working on and I kept running into dead ends. It was definitely frustrating but I refused to give up. I knew that what I was doing was important and necessary for my story. During every phone call I made, I tried to be as poised and professional as I could. If you sound like you know what you're doing/talking about, people are less likely to shoo you away with a quick no. After a week of persistence, and way too many calls later, I finally got what I needed! So, speaking of phone calls...
Be comfortable talking on the phone! I know so many people who don't like making phone calls or get nervous about doing so, but it's important to push yourself out of that mindset. Sometimes sources don't respond quickly to emails, or might not even have an email address listed, so the only way to get to them quickly is to call. Especially when working from home is the new normal, your phone will be your new best friend. The faster you learn good phone skills the easier it will become and the less you'll think about how much you used to dread talking on the phone.
A benefit of directly speaking with someone is that it's more personal and you are bound to get information/quotes you might have missed out on if you opted for an email exchange. A call also makes it easier to ask for clarification or follow-up questions in the moment rather than waiting for an email response.
I hope this post is helpful and pushes everyone to believe in their abilities! You are your biggest supporter and if you don't believe in yourself, who will?
Comentários