Can You Sell Your Ideas to Others?

Selling your ideas to others is a life skill and art to be learnt or mastered. No matter what kind of business and industry you are in or what position you hold in your organisation, you must be able to sell your ideas to others.

If you are the owner of a business, then you have to sell your ideas to your employees or your board of directors.  If you are just an employee of an organization, then you must be able to sell your ideas to your boss, your company, or your clients.  It seems that in this life, no matter whether it is in business, relationships, or interacting with others, we need to be adept at selling our ideas to others.

It is not hard to master this skill but it takes practice.  The first and most important rule of thumb is to remember that one’s credibility and power to make the desired changes must be earned.  Here are some specific points to remember if we want to learn how to sell our ideas effectively to others:

1. We need to be absolutely sure that we have understood every aspect that is related to our proposal. If there are obstacles within your organization that hinders your idea, then you need to find a way around them before you make your suggestions.  This is so that when      the obstacles are raised, you can come up with a solution.
2. We need to also know who or what sections of our business that may be affected negatively by our idea. This is to help us find a way to modify it so that the organization can get all or most of the benefits without any parties getting hurt.
3. We also need to be aware of our own credibility.  Often, it is the presenter more than what is presented that is judged.
4. We must also limit the number of suggestions made.  This will increase your credibility if you have prioritized your ideas before trying to sell them.

In selling your ideas to others, make sure your role is that of a clear advocate.  It is essential that we gain the respect we need through hard work and dedication to our responsibilities.  We can also form alliances with others that are based on mutual respect and hard work.  Finally, we need to know exactly what we are proposing and all the implications of our idea.

The ability to sell your ideas to others is a valuable asset to your life and understanding how it is done is critical and ought to be mastered.  It does not matter whether you are dealing with your peers, your business, your children, or your significant other – your ability to sell your idea will be used, so make sure you hone this tool well.