April, 2014
You have probably heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” We have all had excellent ideas that die on the vine because we fail to convey the flash of brilliance to our stakeholder or superior and gain their approval. They need to see the benefit in order to invest the time and effort to further develop the concept. It is likely your window of opportunity to gain buy-in is limited. Instead of trying to sell an idea, show it. Advancement requires investment.
Why can’t others see what I see? Didn’t we all just sit through the same meeting? Bear in mind that we all have a unique perspective. This leads to variation in our takeaways. One safe practice is to “put it on paper.” You don’t need a fully baked idea to begin collaborating on the next big thing. Establish a baseline that you can share with others and provide something from which you can build. Leverage your team, if you have one. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and solicit input. Nothing is more intimidating than a blank canvas. Providing a starting point will kick start the thought process. There are no wrong answers here.
Think through what you are trying to achieve. Is it possible to take a single instance and establish an example that will help your stakeholder “see” the value? Nothing is more valuable than exercising your masterpiece with a dry run. It will likely require effort to it justice. Is it worth the additional sweat if it means the difference between making your mark on the organization and continuing with the status quo? Give your idea a chance. Invest in your innovation and allow your organization or team the opportunity to experience your idea. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.