When you come up with a great idea, do you tell people about it, or is your first instinct to keep it to yourself? If you're more of the hush-hush type, you might be doing your office, organization or community a disservice by not sharing what's on your mind.

Sure, it takes guts to talk about a topic - especially a new one - in front of a group. That said, developing a plan for presenting new ideas is an important skill to have as a small business professional. Presenting your idea with confidence to a supervisor, other colleagues or whoever shares in making decisions can open all sorts of new doors, and it's easier than you think.

Before It's Time to Present

Before announcing to everyone that you have a great idea you want to share, get your game plan together. You'll feel much more confident if you've thoroughly investigated the idea beforehand.

Do your homework.

• Has anyone tried your idea before? If so, how did it turn out? What or who is your competition?

Know your audience.

Imagine who would be interested in your product or idea. Try making a list of the following:

• What is the age of your target audience? Are they mostly comprised of male or female?

• What is the career and average income level of your target audience?

• What lifestyle and interests do your target audience share?

• How will your target audience find out about it? What advertising methods - television, radio, Internet, trade shows do you plan to use?

Tell people you trust.

Before going public with the idea, discuss it with family and friends you trust to find out what they think. Be sure to write their feedback down, and take it into consideration.

Figure out the angle of approach.

Your idea needs a supporting reason to exist. Whether that reason is money, a better lifestyle or a positive impact on the community, be prepared to discuss the reasons with potential supporters.

If the point is to make money, prepare reasons why your idea will be profitable. You'll need to draw upon these reasons during your presentation.

If the point is not money but another benefit, be sure you are able to clearly articulate this when it's time to present your idea. You don't want to leave everyone mystified.

Announce your news.

Once you thoroughly have identified a target audience, it's time to send an email, memo or other notification to let everyone know you have a new idea to present. And because people get fidgety, don't forget to tell your audience how much time it will take to listen.

When It's Time to Present

Take care of yourself.
Crash dieting, breaking up with a significant other or staying up all night watching television are not ideal ways to prepare for your presentation. Instead, try these traditional methods for feeling your best:

• Get plenty of rest for the few days leading up to your presentation - not just the night before.

• Eat a balanced breakfast - and lunch, depending on the time of day you're speaking.

• Get some exercise.

Make it engaging.

People are easily bored and distracted, especially in today's smart phone era. Spice things up to make sure your boss, colleagues and other listeners stay engaged during your presentation.

• Use mixed media - Don't rely on simply reading from a stack of notecards when you can use slide shows, posters or even props.

• Act it out - Get a group of friends together and perform a short skit that shows the benefits of your idea.

• Ask the audience to participate in the presentation - Handing out a short survey or offering some sort of prize can give your presentation added oomph.

Wait a while for feedback.

Once the presentation is over, don't pounce on your colleagues or leaders to see what they think about it. Instead, let everyone mull it over for a few days. Then, follow up and ask for thoughtful feedback.
Remember, presenting with confidence takes practice, but having the correct ingredients for success is a matter of preparation and thinking ahead.

Author Bio
Diana Gomez is the Marketing Coordinator at Lyoness America, where she is instrumental in the implementation of marketing and social media strategies for USA and Canada. Lyoness is an international shopping community and loyalty rewards program, where businesses and consumers benefit with free membership and money back with every purchase.