Top Ten Tips - Getting Your Ideas Heard
By Tip Diva | Jun 22, 2008
Categories: Adult, Behavior, Boss, Conversation, Creativity, Difficulty, E-Mail, Employment, Files, Job, Organization, Tips, Work, Workplace
You’ve come up with a fantastic idea for your company or project, but don’t know how to get the idea heard. Here are ways to get others to see your lightbulb moment:
- Jot Your Ideas Down - Write down your ideas on paper to help you remember your talking points and for possible presentation.
- Make Sure You’re Able To Back Up Your Idea - Don’t just throw out ideas without reasoning behind it or knowing how it will effect your company or project.
- Be Informed - Know the ins and outs of your ideas and be prepared to answer all questions about it.
- Present Your Case - Figure out the best delivery for your ideas, whether in a meeting or in e-mail, for instance. Have all of your material and ideas prepared before presenting your case, or you’ll just look sloppy and disorganized.
- Make Sure Your Ideas Get To The Top Person - Make sure your idea gets to the top person who should hear the idea. Don’t tell someone under the person and expect it to get to the top person by itself.
- Catch The Top Person At A Good Time - Your ideas may go ignored or unheard if you catch the top person at a bad time - for instance, during quarterly earnings or while he or she is under a lot of pressure. Perhaps schedule a casual lunch or coffee meeting to talk about the idea.
- Start An E-Mail Trail - E-mails allow you to set a date and time to your idea, and may encourage others to get back to you. You also have proof as to when you put the idea out.
- Get Others To Back You Up - Sometimes a best way to get an idea heard is to have a person or people backing you up. Tell someone whom you know will support the idea, and ask if they wouldn’t mind help giving your idea some momentum. The more people behind an idea, the more likely it will be heard.
- Drop Friendly Reminders - Getting your ideas heard does take time, and feel free to drop a “Did you have a chance to review my e-mail?” or “Can we set a time to discuss this idea?”
- Be Persistent, But Not A Pain - It’s okay to drop friendly reminders and be a squeaky wheel, but don’t become a thorn in the top person’s side.
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