How to successfully pitch an idea to your boss in just a few steps

How to successfully pitch an idea to your boss in just a few stepsHow to successfully pitch an idea to your boss in just a few stepsFeeling heard and valued in the workplace shouldnt be an impossible accomplishment. If you know your company down to the smallest detail and you work hard, your perspective has the potential to shape and mold the future success of everyone affiliated with that company.Despite the knowledge that youre working for the greater good, it may not always be easy to get your ideas out of your head and into the real world. A carefully crafted approach can help you find the confidence you need to enrich the professional interests of those around you.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreImpactful ideas are never so simple that they can be thoroughly expressed in a few words. If you want your pitch to count, youll need to know exactly how to document it. Typing out your idea in great detail will give you time to observe and highlight the finer points. It also gives you multiple delivery options. You can practice and memorize your detailed pitch, or you can speak a little and hand your boss the document for the review. You wont need to worry about glossing over anything crucially important or misspeaking if youve had enough time toperfect the presentation of your idea.Consider contigencyplansYour idea might need some work. Therbeie may be factors that conflict with your end goal, making it difficult to accommodate some of the finer nuances. Other things may need to change in order to make that idea feasible, complicating its implementation. If your idea is strong enough, these accommodations may be worthwhile. If your boss needs to do mental gymnastics to figure these things out, she may be hesitant to give it a shot.Think about anything else that may need to be reworked or modified. If you have suggestions for those things, note them. Include proposed changes with your idea proposal to make even the most difficult idea seem viable for implementation.Even though youre completely prepared, your boss might not be. Your idea may require an hour or more of discussion. If she has a lot to do, she might not be able to give you the time and attention you deserve. Let your boss know you have a big idea youd like to discuss at her earliest convenience, and tell her youve prepared all the necessary information for that discussion.Allow her to get back to you when her schedule will allow her to be fully present and engaged. Great things arent worth rushing. You dont want to run the risk of her misunderstanding or feeling overwhelmed by everything youre putting forward. If it takes a while, use that time to your advantage. You may come up with more ideas or improvements for your ideas in the interim.Make sure youre comfortableIn order to speak freely and confidently, you need to be comfortable. Comfort isnt a necessity, its a luxury. If youre packed into a skirt suit that feels too tight and wearing heels that are squeezing your feet, your discomfort will be a constant distraction that may translate as a lack of confidence. Truthfully, most womenswear is not at all designed for comfort.Wear something that makes you feel as though you look great, but be sure that you have fullrange of motion. Becoming animated and gesticulating during your presentation will only serve to show your passion dont let your clothes stop you.Take and Apply FeedbackYour boss might turn you down during your first pitch, and thats absolutely fine. She might provide you with feedback, concerns, and information about obstacles. This doesnt mean your idea will never come to fruition. It simply means you need to modify your idea and its trajectory based on new information, something that true innovators and entrepreneurs do. The most successful people will experiencea barrage of rejectionbefore they find the idea that makes the biggest impa ct, but continue to pursue these ideas through to completion.In short, successfully pitching your idea is equally a matter of clarity, confidence, and resilience. Approaching the process from the right place without reservation is the secret to moving mountains in the business world.This article originally appeared on DressingRoom8.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people