Are you recognising and giving credit to others? It creates the right culture and reciprocity often follows. Don’t underestimate the power of role modelling!
It’s a great start but other strategies may also be helpful.
As well as the power of your brilliant idea, you have the power to influence too - you just need to choose to use it. Treat it like a ‘campaign’.
Know your audience - Who are you trying to influence and be visible to? Try ‘Nemawashi’- speak to key stakeholders beforehand individually to test your early thinking and get them on board an find out how to make your ‘pitch’ relevant to all those you want to influence.
Know your context - Know the politics and the organisational context. Is this the right moment for this idea? Who is listened to? Who is influential? What do they do differently
Practice your pitch to a trusted colleague. Ask for feedback on how best to persuade them/others. Ask for help in getting the timing right from the Chair. Are there influential role models you can study? What enables their success? What can you learn from/ replicate? Can you ask for their support?
In your pitch, ‘own’ your idea: ‘I think we could…’ or ‘Building on that I think…’ are stronger than ‘I just wondered if we could…‘ or ‘Just in case its useful…’.
‘I’ statements rather than ‘We’ statements can be more powerful.
If you don’t ‘own’ your idea – you’re encouraging others to forget who owns it too!
Speak with confidence and clarity.
Reflect on previous occasions when you have felt more visible. What did you do that was different? Learn from success and apply it to your current situation.
Read ‘How Women Rise’ by Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith or 'Playing Big’ by Tara Mohr.
with thanks to coaching colleagues Ceri Moyers, Angela Hill, Jenny Hargrave for their additions and suggestions