Being employed means more than just having a job; it means being part of an organization’s identity. You become a face that stands for its origins, vision, goals, and culture. You become someone through whom the organization can introduce itself.
The question is: are you showing potential partners and clients an accurate picture of how great your organization is? That might spell the difference between sealing the deal and losing it to someone else.
But never fear! We’ve got you covered with this handy guide, so read on for what you need to be the best representative your organization can have.
KNOW YOUR ORGANIZATION, INSIDE AND OUT.
How can you represent something you barely know anything about? Familiarize and understand everything you can learn about your organization so you can make an informed pitch to potential partners. They’ll feel more properly accommodated and attended to if they can speak to an expert, and that expert should be you.
CARRY YOUR ORGANIZATION’S MESSAGE PROUDLY.
When you know what to tell potential partners, you have to say it with conviction. Give them the impression that what your organization can do is so valuable, useful, and worthwhile that you yourself would give your full trust. When meeting with potential partners, act and speak confidently. They’ll be more likely to sign a deal with someone who fully believes in the value of what they offer.
SELL STRENGTHS AND DOWNPLAY CHALLENGES.
Emphasis is your friend. When discussing what you can do for your potential partners, present challenges briefly and immediately follow with detailed plans to overcome those challenges. Present your organization’s capabilities in a way that makes their struggles seem temporary and manageable.
HIGHLIGHT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S RELEVANCE.
Build a favorable context around your pitch: relate your organization’s nature and capabilities to real-life situations and current events, and emphasize how it’s different and better than its competitors. Your potential partners will surely take note of these advantages, and give greater priority to the possibility of working with you.
BE HUMAN – YOU’RE NOT A PAMPHLET OR A WEBSITE.
Interact with and respond to your potential partners. Create an engaging two-way conversation, where you can discuss opportunities and possibilities across multiple viewpoints and approaches. Give them greater awareness and knowledge about your organization than what they would learn from a flyer or your official website.
Master these basics, and show the world what your organization is here to do!