.png){kind=icon}
The Ask an Executive series features Forbes Councils members' insights into leadership and other business topics in a Q&A format.
Question: How can I get a leadership team excited about a new initiative?
I've got a plan for a new initiative that will make a big difference for our company, but I've got to get the leadership team on board. How can I make them see the value I see?
Meet our Executive: Jeff Ton, SVP, product development and strategic alliances, InterVision
Forbes Technology Council member Jeff Ton is the senior vice president of product development & strategic alliances for InterVision, responsible for driving the company’s product vision and strategy. He is also the author of Amplify Your Value: Leading IT with Strategic Vision, a book to help IT leaders increase their organizational value with tangible strategies.
Answer: Tell a story that paints a picture of your vision
My favorite example came as the CIO for a national real estate developer. They made multi-million dollar decisions every day. They followed a very prescriptive process including have a well defined document package called an Investment Memo. It had elevation drawings, site plans, benchmarks, rent comps...everything. So when pitching our IT strategic plan, we used the exact same format and process. We pitched it like a building, even equating building IT systems to building an office building. When done, our CEO leaned back and said “That is the first time I have ever understood IT.” Why? Because we told a story...in his language...in his format.
