Over the past several years, HR's role has steadily risen in stature, with more and more leaders recognizing the critical nature of HR functions and their impact on business growth and the bottom line. And HR has risen to the occasion by finding solutions to the chaos caused by the pandemic, driving vital culture changes to improve equality within the workplace, prioritizing diversity and inclusion, and developing new solutions to improve the employee experience.
But despite this upward trend, the task of pitching new ideas, plans, or strategies to the C-Suite isn't without difficulty. While you may understand how the solution you've worked hard to develop is right for the business, it's not exactly easy to convey this—especially when money is on the line.
As more solutions become available and the market for HR solutions grows, HR professionals need to prepare themselves for the inevitable fight for the “right one”. But this can't be done in a power-play.
As you prepare for your next conversation about an HR solution you'd like to implement, consider approaching it like a “pitch.”
Understand your audience
While you may understand why the solution you're pitching is the right one, that doesn't mean it's clear to the CEO or CFO of the company. As you work to frame the information you've gathered, consider each of your audience's perspectives, and try framing your pitch to fit their specific lens:
- A CEO generally keeps the grand vision for the organization front of mind. They want to know how any solution will help them reach their ultimate goals. They want to be reassured that each section of the company will engage successfully with the solution. And they'll want to know why this solution is better than others.
- A CFO is a different story. They want to know how this solution will affect the bottom line. They may be more interested in hard numbers, data, research, and comparative data between similar solutions.
As you approach these conversations, consider how you might frame the information you have to fit your audience's specific questions before sitting down with them. Preparing yourself for the decision-makers' inevitable questions and worries will help you develop confidence and build their confidence and trust in you as your conversation progresses.
Start with small steps
Instead of expecting a decision to be made right out the gate, consider setting up a series of meetings in which you approach your ultimate goal of implementing the solution over time, creating stepping stones that gradually bring the decision-makers to the finish line. Set clear goals for each meeting so they'll know what to expect. Consider breaking down the conversation into a series of small steps:
- Set a preliminary meeting to talk about the current solution (or lack of solution) the organization has. Review how it's going and identify what issues have arisen. Then take a look at the overall goals of the organization and identify areas that need attention. This meeting is an opportunity for you to uncover their concerns and goals, which will inform how you approach your second presentation.
- In your second meeting, frame your solution around the main points and concerns highlighted in the first discussion. This is your chance to explain why you think it's the best fit. Don't leave your expert opinion out, but don't forget to address your audience's concerns. Before asking them to make the final decision, propose bringing in someone from the company offering the solution or from a similar organization as yours that has implemented it.
By approaching the pitch as a series of small steps that lead to a bigger decision, you'll remove the anxiety around making the final purchase and help build trust as they learn about the solution.
Practice
As you prepare, don't forget to practice these conversations. Try roleplaying and writing a list of questions you might expect. While you may think you know everything about this solution, you don't want to risk giving a sloppy, confusing answer when the moment strikes. Run through your presentation at least three times, and identify areas that can be clarified, simplified, or left out.
Remember, you are the expert in this situation. If you believe your solution will make a difference for your organization, you owe it to your team to be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible. You got this!
Content provided by Q4iNetwork and partners
Photo by Cathy Yeulet
