Sam Harrison is a speaker, workshop leader and writer on creativity-related topics. His latest book, IdeaSelling: Successfully pitch your creative ideas to bosses, clients and other decision makers, was released in May by HOW Books. He is also the author of IdeaSpotting: How to find your next great idea, and Zing!: Five steps and 101 tips for creativity on command.
Are you down because decision makers are chewing up your ideas? Sam Harrison, author of IdeaSelling, Successfully pitch your creative ideas to bosses, clients and other decision makers, offers five quick tips to help you get up and get ready to make a winning presentation.
… It’s also how you deliver the words.
Some people have a way with words. James Earl Jones made “This is CNN” sound like a declaration from God. All lines flowing from Judith Dench’s mouth reflect royalty. And John Kennedy effortlessly turned boring statements into riveting calls to arms.
Reports permeate every company. Market reports. Sales reports. Product reports. Competitive reports. Employee reports. And these reports probably head your way with the launch of every new project.
Reports are good as far as they go. But, as you already know, they don’t go nearly far enough. Especially when it comes to providing creative fuel for generating ideas.
Battles are easy to find inside any organization. Big egos, unsolicited opinions and turf-protectors slouch under every streetlight. And out come knives and chains when you round the corner with fresh ideas.
But as in-house creatives, it’s important to pick our battles. We can’t win every fight, and nobody likes dealing with someone who rolls out a nuclear arsenal to defend a project’s every detail.
You can predict what product manager Eric will say before he opens his mouth. You’ve heard Cynthia in marketing express her branding theories maybe two million times. And if the CEO drones on about synergies and optics once more, you’ll have to strangle him with his silk tie.
During her formal dinner party, the hostess whispered to Winston Churchill that she had seen a prominent member of Parliament pocket one of her antique salt shakers. Churchill said he would take care of it. He walked over to the table, tucked a similar shaker in his own dinner jacket, then pulled the man aside.
 |
 |
 |
 |
What are the top client bad habits you want to break?
Total Voters: 65
Loading ...
