PPB October 2020

prepared for when management points them out during your proposal. If you can test your idea before you pitch it, do it. This will allow you to bring actionable data and examples into your proposal instead of just speculation. As Julia Maddox espouses in the SPARK session, “Innovation: The Future of Your Business – Design Thinking Can Help,” it’s important to fail and learn from your failure. She says, “In early stages, keep prototypes inexpensive and low resolution to learn quickly and explore possibilities.” STEP THREE: Prep. Anxiety is the price we pay for the unprepared mind and mouth. To make your proposal the best it can be and ensure that you have the confidence you need to communicate clearly, take the time to prepare for it. If you need to make a presentation to adequately share your idea, spend time making it look good. Create a script and rehearse it, both alone with a mirror and in front of an audience. Lois Frankel, PhD, author of Nice Girls Don’t Speak Up or Stand Out: How to Make Your Voice Heard, Your Point Known, and Your Presence Felt , says, “Put your main point up front, and follow it with more detail.” This is similar in structure to an essay, where you state your theme in your intro and follow it up with supporting data. Choose your location wisely. Give your idea the time it requires to pitch properly, but don’t over-inflate it either. If you can sum it up in a minute, make an elevator pitch. However, if your proposal will take more than five minutes, schedule a time with your supervisor. Let him or her know what the general topic is but save your actual idea for the meeting. This will be respectful of your supervisor’s time, ensures he or she comes prepared to listen and provides adequate time to loop in any other appropriate teammembers. STEP FOUR: Pitch. Make your time count. You have your audience’s undivided attention, so make the most of it. Come fully prepared. Have facts and figures in-hand, on paper, to refer to as asked. Make sure your presentation materials are in order and that your laptop or any other electronics you are using are fully charged. Speak at an appropriate volume for the setting and be sure to enunciate. Speak with conviction and avoid “maybe” statements. Practice a few filler responses to buy yourself time to think about unexpected questions, such as, “That’s something I hadn’t considered. My first impression is this but let me do some additional research and I can have something more concrete for you soon.” Keep your presentation succinct. Don’t waste anyone’s time with specific details about how the plan will work unless they ask. Thank your audience for their time and ask for immediate feedback or impressions to ensure that your idea was interpreted as you intended. STEP FIVE: Follow up. If there were specific questions during your presentation that you couldn’t answer, send a follow-up email as soon as you can to address those concerns. Be specific about what the question was regarding and how you would address the issue. Let a few days pass before casually asking if your supervisor has had time to consider your proposal, if any additional information is needed for it to be considered or if they have feedback or adjustments they would like to see. Don’t pester, and choose your follow-up times wisely, but make sure that it’s clear you want an answer about how to proceed with your idea. “Be tenacious but gracious,” says Maddox in her Elevator Pitch Toolkit. Be honest with yourself about any roadblocks, pain points or challenges that were brought up. It’s not the end of your idea if they exist, but it’s important to acknowledge themand have potential solutions. xtock / Shutterstock.com. | OCTOBER 2020 | 17 INNOVATE