Whether you are vying for a highly-prized account, convincing a CFO to loosen the purse strings, or swaying a new team, you need a winning pitch. Here are three steps to compose and deliver it:
- Know the hidden agenda. Figure out your audience’s unspoken emotional motivation. What do they want, need, or value above all else?
- Connect. Demonstrate that you have the answer for them: something special that solves their needs.
- Form your argument. Create an exciting narrative where your audience attains their desires. Don’t use business-speak, but good old-fashioned storytelling to convincingly convey your pitch.
Adapted from “Win the Pitch: Tips from Mastercard’s ‘Priceless’ Pitchman” by Kevin Allen.