4 Tips For A Great Leadership Pitch

by Ken Valenzuela, BeALeader.Net's Chief Editor

leadership-pitch

In his bestseller The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything Guy Kawasaki gives insights about several skills a enterpreneur should have in order to succeed in business. In my own experience I can say that some of those skills are indeed basic for Leadership Too.

We’ve talked about the need for good communication in leadership and a leader must show good communication skills. For enterpreneurs pitching is a great tool for raising money, it also is essential for reaching agreements. For leaders it can be a great tool too. Most of the time you’re not raising money, you’re raising trust (which turns to be the “money” in your leader-follower relationship).

I’ve adapted the tips in the book for leadership.

Here are Four Tips for a Great Leadership Pitch.

  1. Explain Yourself in the First Minute. Be clear, be simple. Use everyday words, and bear in mind the following: your audience is waiting for you to answer one question: “What’s our vision?” Next time you make a pitch, answer that question in the very first minute.
  2. So What? Every time you make a point, answer this question, and give some examples, or real world use of your point. Make it worthwhile to your audience.
  3. Only you do the talking. In a pitch, it’s advisable for you to do the talking if you’re in charge. If there’s anything technical or specific that has to be covered you should let your experts explain in one or two slides that topic. But remember, they have to be brief.
  4. Pitch constantly, practice is the breakfast of masters. Start small, with your coworkers, familiy.

LEADERSHIP ACTIONS

  1. In the next meeting you have, do a pitch.
  2. Tonight when you get home, do a pitch. Tell your wife/spouse/kids, how much you love her/him/them in the very first minute and give them good examples. Better yet, have a great diner with them.
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6 comments

1 Sharif { 04.14.09 at 11:10 pm }

I think It’s a wonderful topic. A vision is what our imagination is about if I am not wrong. It has been a wonderful topic. I have learned and experienced that being concise, explicit and to the point is always important.

Thanks for posting such an interesting topic

Best wishes

Sharif Arif

2 Mahinda Saranapala { 04.15.09 at 12:57 am }

Very practical and easy to understand golden tips.In organisations Vision is so important to get all involved and a great leader will ensure that all are aligned to the vision.The leader will make sure the ojectives are met.Thanks for the advice.

3 Ken Valenzuela, BeALeader.Net's Chief Editor { 04.28.09 at 8:00 am }

Sharif:
Here in Chile we have a saying: “Directo al grano”, which translates like “straight to the point” . I think that blends concise and explicit.

Mahinda:
I agree with you, Vision is what should be the moving motto of the team/organization/group. A good leader should have his/her “pitch” always in her/his lips ready to go whenever is necessary.

Sharif, Mahinda thank you for the time you took to comment about the post. I really appreciate your opinions.

– Ken

4 sachin porwal { 04.29.09 at 2:14 am }

A leader has ability influnce to others it’s a good leader it’s means A leader should that he can understand to other and return to others.

5 sachin porwal { 04.29.09 at 2:19 am }

i think that A good leader has ability influnce to other. it’s means we can say that a good leader understand to others and return understand it.

6 Richard { 07.13.09 at 3:29 am }

Great job Ken, wel put I think you are doing a great job, this to me is as priceless as giving to charity.

Great week

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