Executing a successful pitch can transform your work prospects, paving the way for project successes and even promotions. This is because you are never just pitching your idea, you are pitching yourself. The people you are talking to need to feel sold on you, and feel confident in instilling their trust in you.
After all, if you are pitching an idea to your superiors, they would lose the respect of their peers if they were to back you personally, only to be let down by your lack of delivery. This is why the people you are pitching to will search subconsciously for signs of your strengths and weaknesses. Often, the moment you start to falter, you will lose their full attention.
This is why it is crucial to get your pitch at work right consistently. If you know how to do it, pitching can become a secret weapon that catapults you to career success.
Here is how to nail your pitch at work every time:
Use language to command people’s attention
Language techniques are one of the most powerful tools you can use to nail your pitch and sell people on your ability to deliver. While it might sound strange to talk about language, it can have a huge bearing on the persuasiveness of your pitch.
When you give a pitch, you are not necessarily talking how you would write. It is not about speaking in perfect English, or using flowery adjectives, it is about painting a picture in your audience’s head. This could be done in the form of emotive language, metaphors and alliteration devices, which are all deceptively simple but incredibly effective when put to good use.
Improve your body language
Another great way of nailing your pitch is to ensure you have powerful body language. This doesn’t mean you have to adopt some ridiculous stance, but it helps if you learn a few body language techniques in order to command attention in the room.
These techniques include being open, having your palms facing out when you talk and avoiding crossing your arms or stooping your shoulders. This extends most commonly to eye contact, which should be consistent and unwavering.
Have a strong understanding of the person you’re pitching to
If you want to persuade someone, then you first need to understand them. It is no good using certain analogies and language if the person you are pitching to has no idea what you are talking about.
Instead, consider what that person enjoys doing in their spare time, the name of their partner, whether they have a keen sense of humor or prefer a more serious conversation.
Once you have a good understanding of how to gain an individual’s attention, you are better able to pitch your ideas successfully. This doesn’t mean you have to stalk their entire life, only that you should try to get to know them better in order to see what they might be receptive to hearing.
After all, pitching is about having a human-to-human conversation, so by focusing on the other person, rather than how you are feeling, you stand a great chance of conveying your argument effectively.
