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Abstract

is basic but not always taken into account.</p><p id="d75e">The perfect idea or project aligns the company’s interests, yours and those of your boss or the person who has to authorize it.</p><p id="bbf9">When you present the idea, keep this in mind. Your boss needs to know why the idea benefits them personally.</p><h2 id="d653">2- Define what the “next step” is</h2><p id="b95b">What is the first thing the company should do if you are authorized to get started?</p><p id="98a2">This is something you’re going to get asked, especially from bosses who are relatively conservative or change-averse. “How do we move forward?”</p><p id="2ccd">Ideally, it’s a step that you have to take, as long as you’re given the go-ahead.</p><p id="9e32"><b>Put the first step in your hands.</b></p><h2 id="bca6">3- Create an elevator pitch</h2><p id="c894">An elevator pitch is as helpful for an intrapreneur as an entrepreneur looking for investors.</p><p id="d1ea">Casual or informal meetings are natural in a company, and that short speech has to be prepared and rehearsed so that it is clear, attractive, and comes out without doubts.</p><h2 id="248f">4- Brainstorm with your team or co-workers to anticipate possible objections and prepare answers to them</h2><p id="7daf">Being able to confidently and clearly answer those objections strengthens the project’s image and sends a clear message that you are prepared and have considered different angles.</p

Options

<h2 id="b281">5- Present a comprehensive approach</h2><p id="214e">Even if it is a simple idea to solve a specific production problem, there are always impacts in other areas and the general business performance.</p><p id="dad6">Considering them is the right approach.</p><p id="2011">We are presenting (whether simpler or more complex) a business case, and we must consider all the aspects it encompasses and all the positive impacts, which sometimes are not evident.</p><h2 id="9290">6. Link the idea to a particular past success</h2><p id="f525">If the company is more than five years old, it already has in its culture more than one “epic” story of how a severe problem was solved in the past or of some memorable success.</p><p id="5e48">If possible, relate your idea to that fact, let the pride the company (and your boss) has in some past success help you build credibility for a new one.</p><p id="5a16">What are the similarities between them?</p><p id="7a0f">Is it another technological leap?</p><p id="02d3">Is it another product expansion?</p><p id="9e4d">Is it another significant infrastructure improvement?</p><p id="6ec9">Is it another low-cost solution to a substantial problem?</p><p id="2897">Associate and link your idea to a previous and proven success.</p><p id="7854">As I said, persuasion is an art. But every art has its rules.</p><p id="7e13">Follow them, and you will start the journey to master it.</p></article></body>

6 Effective Strategies To Sell an Idea to Your Boss

Your suggestions are a source of practical innovation for your company and a career booster for yourself

The ideas you bring to the company you work for are the ones that move you forward in your career.

And from the company´s point of view, the primary source of innovation and productivity increases are employees´ suggestions and projects.

After all, those folks deeply know the inner workings of production, marketing, selling, and distribution of the product the company offers.

That’s why it’s so important to know how to sell your ideas, both for your career and your employer´s sake.

Now, selling an idea is an art that is honed over a lifetime, but there are a few tricks that are essential and should be taken into account from the start.

Here are six such strategies to make your boss more willing to buy your idea:

1- Make sure they share the benefits (and know it)

This is basic but not always taken into account.

The perfect idea or project aligns the company’s interests, yours and those of your boss or the person who has to authorize it.

When you present the idea, keep this in mind. Your boss needs to know why the idea benefits them personally.

2- Define what the “next step” is

What is the first thing the company should do if you are authorized to get started?

This is something you’re going to get asked, especially from bosses who are relatively conservative or change-averse. “How do we move forward?”

Ideally, it’s a step that you have to take, as long as you’re given the go-ahead.

Put the first step in your hands.

3- Create an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is as helpful for an intrapreneur as an entrepreneur looking for investors.

Casual or informal meetings are natural in a company, and that short speech has to be prepared and rehearsed so that it is clear, attractive, and comes out without doubts.

4- Brainstorm with your team or co-workers to anticipate possible objections and prepare answers to them

Being able to confidently and clearly answer those objections strengthens the project’s image and sends a clear message that you are prepared and have considered different angles.

5- Present a comprehensive approach

Even if it is a simple idea to solve a specific production problem, there are always impacts in other areas and the general business performance.

Considering them is the right approach.

We are presenting (whether simpler or more complex) a business case, and we must consider all the aspects it encompasses and all the positive impacts, which sometimes are not evident.

6. Link the idea to a particular past success

If the company is more than five years old, it already has in its culture more than one “epic” story of how a severe problem was solved in the past or of some memorable success.

If possible, relate your idea to that fact, let the pride the company (and your boss) has in some past success help you build credibility for a new one.

What are the similarities between them?

Is it another technological leap?

Is it another product expansion?

Is it another significant infrastructure improvement?

Is it another low-cost solution to a substantial problem?

Associate and link your idea to a previous and proven success.

As I said, persuasion is an art. But every art has its rules.

Follow them, and you will start the journey to master it.