What do you do if your business strategy ideas are being overlooked as an intern?

The first thing is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the difference between a Strategy and Tactics. Many people, regardless of their tenure don't know the difference. Strategy is HARD and tactics are much easier. Strategy is the BIG IDEA and tactics are what help deliver the strategy and its goals.

Strategic Business Pitch: Setting the Stage for Success Understand Organizational Context: Grasp the objectives, vision & team dynamics before presenting your strategy ideas. Conduct Comprehensive Research: Explore industry, market, competitor & customer landscapes to inform your pitch. Align with Vision & Values: Ensure your ideas resonate with the organization mission, vision & core values. Identify Key Players: Recognize stakeholders, decision-makers & influencers crucial in the decision-making process. Anticipate Challenges & Benefits: Prepare for potential obstacles, risks & advantages of your proposals for a well-rounded pitch. This proactive approach demonstrates deep understanding of the context, enhancing the impact of your pitch.

I would actively seek feedback from my direct supervisor or mentor regarding my ideas. This feedback loop would help me understand any areas for improvement and refine my proposals accordingly. But not only that, it also brings my overlooked ideas back on the table and maybe under consideration.

No matter how robust your Business Strategy ideas, sharing them needs strategic approach to channelize the same. I think for effective communication of Business Strategy ideas, 'Customization' is key depending on the culture of the organization. Customization enables you to effectively convey your ideas, ensuring they are well-received & understood by the intended audience. Remember, while tailoring the communication of business strategy ideas one can either choose formal or informal channels like meetings or creative breakaway sessions but choose appropriate channels that best fits the purpose & tonality of your message.

I think for Effective Communication of Business Strategy ideas: Clarity & Impact is key -Clarity in Communication: Clearly articulate what, why & how you wish to convey your business strategy ideas. -Simplicity & Precision: Use simple language, avoid jargon & structure your message logically for better understanding. -Engaging Introduction: Start with a captivating summary to capture the audience attention & outline your main point. -Support with Evidence: Provide examples, interesting anecdotes, stories or evidence to reinforce the value & feasibility of your ideas. -Actionable Conclusion: Conclude with a clear call to action that encourages feedback or collaboration. This approach ensures your message is effectively delivered & understood

Executives and leaders generally have a busy schedule so being able to present your idea in a quick 15 minute meeting is best. Focus on the problem and your solution. The best benefits to keep in mind are saving time, money and resources or making sales and company growth.

Embracing Feedback for Growth: A Path to Improvement -Seek & Embrace Feedback: Request & value input from others to enhance your business strategy ideas. -Open-Mindedness: Be receptive to diverse opinions & perspectives, fostering a culture of respect & learning. -Active Listening: Engage attentively, ask for clarification & acknowledge the feedback provided. -Constructive Use of Criticism: View criticism as an opportunity for growth & improvement rather than a personal attack. -Gratitude & Follow-Up: Thank feedback givers, take necessary actions & provide updates, demonstrating a commitment to learning & development. Remember, the idea is to strengthen relationships through continuous learning & improvement.

If your strategy ideas are overlooked as an intern, seek feedback, learn, and pivot based on input. Show eagerness to learn, improve, and contribute high-quality strategy work. Embrace feedback as a growth opportunity.

Remember, building Credibility & Rapport is vital for Business Strategy success. Demonstrate your competence, but at the same time be polite & communicate succinctly but effectively. Be supportive & empathize with team members. Fostering credibility through competence & trustworthiness & building rapport through likability & respect are crucial for the successful reception of business strategy ideas within the organization. By combining credibility & rapport-building strategies, individuals can enhance their influence, strengthen relationships & improve the acceptance of their strategic proposals.

I was always very vocal in my career, even when I had "no right" to be. But leadership started paying attention when I: - built enough credibility in my job to show that I get stuff done. When new projects come up and the leadership team asks for volunteers, I raised my hand. - Find what topics are valuable to my department of interest (in my case, the CEO's office), learn more about it, and ask to shadow a team member you respect and offer help where needed. When you give first, asking people to listen will come easier. The funny thing is, this also works when working remotely in smaller companies with global teams. It's how I quickly shifted roles in industries I have no experience in.