Here's how you can effectively convey your innovative ideas and projects to stakeholders and decision-makers.

I believe this is a nice topic to share my thoughts on how effectively I communicate ideas with stakeholders and decision-makers. One should not hesitate to present unique, life-changing, and society-transforming ideas. Show some courage, make a wonderful presentation, draw the attention of decision-makers, and listen to them while presenting unique ideas. Allow them to share their views on the unique ideas and also share with them the benefits individuals or society will receive from the implementation of these ideas. Ideas are unique, though once we implement them we get the benefits.

Understand your audience backgrounds, priorities, and the challenges they face. Tailor your presentation to address their specific needs and show how your idea offers a solution. Use language that resonates with them and avoid jargon that may confuse or alienate. Anticipate their questions and concerns, and prepare clear, concise responses. By demonstrating empathy and aligning your project with their values and objectives, you'll build trust and increase the likelihood of gaining their support.

Always remember, it is not about "your idea" or "your success", too often innovators can get tunnel vision around their ideas, and not tune their message to focus on mutual success and benefit. The number of people that want to help you solely for your benefit is very very low.

This question put me to sleep. However the robot needs more character count. Here is character + 🔢 Hey so anyway what’s everyone recent favorite movie or show?

Once you know your audience, craft a message that captivates and informs. Start with a clear, concise explanation of your idea, avoiding jargon that could confuse or alienate listeners. Outline the problem your innovation solves and why it's important now. Use storytelling to create an emotional connection, illustrating how your idea will positively impact lives or businesses. For instance, when I introduced a new agile process to a team resistant to change, framing it as a story of transformation and success helped gain their support. A well-structured message balancing facts with narrative can turn complexity into clarity.

A few ways you can craft your message on innovative ideas is start with giving the audience what if there's a chance something can turn out better. Then hook them to ask more questions, and then introduce the ideas. The idea would sound like a collaborative idea than someone trying to sell something.

When crafting your message, focus on the value proposition for your audience and how it will benefit them. By highlighting what's in it for them, you're more likely to capture their attention and win their buy-in.

Remember that the center of communication is people, and your recipient wants to feel like the protagonist. What concerns them? How much are they willing to invest to solve it? Do not talk about products, services, formats, or features; talk about solutions in a very visual way that allows the recipient to imagine themselves at the end of the sales process.

Visual aids can be powerful tools in conveying complex ideas simply and effectively. Use diagrams, charts, or slides to illustrate key points and relationships within your project. Visuals should complement your verbal message, not overwhelm it, so keep them clear and straightforward. In my experience, a compelling visual can often make a concept click for your audience, providing that 'aha' moment. For instance, using a flowchart to explain an Agile process helped stakeholders understand the iterative cycle and its benefits. This approach consistently turns interest into enthusiasm, enhancing engagement and support.

Less is more, don’t show me a graph, tell me the key insight from the graph. Keep it to 3 points per slide and hit me with the most important first up.

One of the most important aspects of innovation communication is presenting your innovation results in a clear, compelling, and engaging way. Data visualization and storytelling are two powerful tools that can help you achieve this goal. Data visualization is the process of transforming data into graphical or visual forms, such as charts, graphs, maps, or diagrams. Storytelling is the art of creating and sharing narratives that convey meaning, emotion, and insight. By combining data visualization and storytelling, you can communicate your innovation results in a way that captures the attention, interest, and imagination of your audience.

Compreendendo que o historytelling é sobre contar a história da melhor forma e não construir um discurso irreal, a apresentação visual será fundamental para que o interlocutor compreenda de forma simples o contexto. Uma apresentação bem feita auxilia também no reforço do seu posicionamento e transmite profissionalismo e seriedade ao seu trabalho. Caso não tenha facilidade nessa área, vale trazer colaboradores ou parceiros especializados.

Skin in the game and a working demo. Show stakeholders a prototype and the benefits of your innovation. How will this make money or save time?

Rehearsing before a presentation is crucial for success. Practice your pitch multiple times to refine your delivery and anticipate questions. Prepare by brainstorming potential questions and building strong arguments in advance. For example, before a major pitch, I rehearsed extensively, which allowed me to present confidently and engage effectively with the audience. Predicting questions and having ready responses can significantly enhance your credibility and show thorough preparation.

One thing I noticed is that no matter how well I practice, especially for a speech, my first sound is " silence". - an inaudible sound. My second sound is the clearing of my throat - for my voice to come. After that, it's smooth sailing. Maybe, it's a reflex action just to get the initial second of self-consciousness out of the way before a deep dive into a subject matter. Those are things that I am working on to remove from my speech. There is also the pause between thoughts that I am connecting which should be just that and nothing else. Public speaking is an art. I am sharing simply to say that Self awareness comes first, then the task of self improvement which comes with continuous practice. We must practice the right things.

Always be preppin'. If you haven't prepped for the meeting or the presentation, you might as well just call it a day. You want to prep to the point where you feel comfortable and confident in what you are saying and how you are saying it, and depending on the audience and level of importance you might even want to practice on family, friends and peers. The key is to center the prep around key bullet points and build your story around those points. If this is the first time giving the presentation or having this type of meeting or running with a project, do not ad-lib. Do not. Just don't do it. Prepare, prepare, prepare and then stick to the points.

In my experience, separating the "HOW" from the discussion opens up a plethora of opportunities to think out loud and get acceptance for creative ideas. The context has to be set to "WHAT IF" so that it entices the curiosity of the stakeholders because that is how all great ideas were born...

Engaging with your audience is crucial. Ask rhetorical questions or invite them to imagine scenarios that highlight the need for your innovation. This keeps them involved and makes your presentation interactive. After presenting, be ready to listen to feedback and answer questions. Your ability to respond effectively can reinforce your expertise and the viability of your project. In my experience, during a pitch for a new software tool, inviting feedback helped address concerns on the spot and built trust. Treat this as an integral part of the communication process, as it demonstrates respect for their input and solidifies your proposal's credibility.

Engaging with the audience is the most crucial part. Think of a presenter who came presented and left. He didn’t let you ask any questions. People were bored and everyone was on their mobile checking their messages. A good presenter should always check the audience. Are they interested or not? Sometimes ask questions sometimes make online surveys. If you loose your audience attention you will lose your attention also.

Engaging your audience during a presentation is not just about delivering information—it's about fostering interaction and connection. By posing rhetorical questions or inviting your audience to envision scenarios that highlight the necessity of your innovation, you invite them into your narrative and make the content more relatable and compelling. This interactive approach keeps listeners actively engaged and invested in your ideas

Engaging with your audience is crucial for a successful presentation. In my experience, engaging the audience through questions and interactive elements has always led to more successful outcomes. For example, during a recent presentation, I asked the audience to imagine how a particular innovation could solve a common problem they faced. This not only captured their attention but also made the presentation more relatable and impactful. Treat audience engagement as an integral part of the communication process. It shows that you value their input and are willing to adapt based on their feedback. This approach not only enhances your presentation but also helps you build a stronger connection with your audience. #TopMentoringVoice

Following up after a presentation is crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring key points are understood. In my mentoring experience, follow-up is essential. After a pitch, I always send a summary email to stakeholders, reiterating key points and addressing new questions. This shows dedication, builds trust, and drives innovation forward. Engage with your audience through ongoing communication to enhance understanding, strengthen relationships, and build credibility.

A good mentor always follows up with their mentee. Abandoning a mentee on their journey is the greatest breach of trust a mentor can commit. The mentee relies on the mentor for guidance and accountability. While temporary absences from mentorship may occur, it is imperative that the mentor remains aware of this possibility and keeps the mentee informed. Alternatively, the mentor should establish a system to ensure their absence is managed through predefined processes.

Most successful projects are based on frequent follow-up and sync-up routines. An aptly prepared MOM with action items allocated to the respective person, key dates of completion, and on-time follow-up on the status makes a huge difference in accomplishing a commonly shared project goal. While you do so, you happen to retain the interest of team members and identify any unforeseen challenges or blockers. This in turn helps you to plan for risk or mitigation steps way ahead of time.

After presentations, follow through with additional resources that show you're invested in their security journey. Offer ongoing support and insights that reinforce your role as a trusted ally in their cybersecurity strategy.

Following up after a presentation is crucial for keeping the momentum going and ensuring that key points are understood and remembered. It demonstrates commitment and allows for any additional questions or concerns to be addressed promptly. Consistent communication is key to driving innovation forward and ensuring successful outcomes.

Most importantly you must fulfill a need - be it societal, financial or personal - preferably all 3. And you must have a defined timeline to success with a definition of what success actually looks like in your project. Only then will an innovative idea resonate and gain traction. We all want eventually to see outcomes that generate some “wealth” (which is not always defined in monetary terms) for those who come along with us on the journey of taking an innovative idea and bringing it to reality.

Why do we expect criticism or failure when we step when prepping for a public appearance or speech? What would happen if instead we embraced these opportunities with courage and enthusiasm? I think most people underestimate the danger of perfection and the power of the unrefined voice. This year has taught me that I don’t need to be a perfect speaker to make a difference, and when I speak from the heart, the audience relates to the message. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?“-Marianne Williamson

Três dicas adicionais: - apresentação em slides, use o método 10/20/30: 10 slides, 20 minutos, fonte 30. - prepare sua apresentação, mas se prepare para "dar errado", ou seja, a tela não funcionar, o arquivo não abrir, faltar luz... lembre se: vc é seu maior produto. Ou seja, treine sua apresentação pra não precisar de nenhum recurso visual. - vá para além de conhecer seu público: prepare seu material com a intenção de levá-lo pra cima, ou seja, quem estiver ali, vendo, vai reconhecer o potencial do seu material, pra subir com ele. Mostre a visão estratégica no seu negócio.

What's in it for them? That's a great approach to have. Consider - For what purpose would they be interested in your idea? - What is important for you may not be important for them - Think from their perspective: what about your idea would grab them? - How would they want it presented? Do they like detailed information or do they want summarised executive summary? - When presenting, allow room for discussion so you can make your presentation relevant to your audience.