Not everyone will like your idea at first, or even at all. How do you handle a situation such as this? Take time to listen to their reasons. They may have considered reasons that it won’t work that you hadn’t thought of, or this may be an opportunity to discuss the negative aspects and come up with ideas to overcome any barriers. It is important to listen patiently to others’ views and take them on board if you want them to support the idea.

When presenting the idea, there is a lot to prepare (see the next section for information on presenting the idea). It may be helpful to sound out a colleague you think will support the idea first, get their views, and then they can help you to persuade others during the discussions. If those involved with delivering the idea can influence how it is to be done, they will be more committed to it.

During research and planning, you might have considered potential barriers and discussed any potential issues with relevant stakeholders. Highlighting the amount of research that you have done will support your idea and help to get others on–board, too. It will make them feel confident that you have made the right decisions.