One of the most concrete skills everyone should learn is how to make a compelling proposal. Whether that’s a proposal for the marketing plan you would like to create for a company, or a proposal to your boss about a different focus for your work, the essential question remains similar.
Using the written word, how can you persuade someone to approve your request?
Typically you have to outline the idea, explain the value, provide detailed cost breakdown and close with an ask.
This isn’t a complex process, but it’s not easy to do. When working with young people, they often ask questions like “Can we buy this item?” or “Can we go to this place?” And the answer is always the same, “Put it in a proposal. Let me know what it is, why it would be helpful and how much it costs.”
While we thought this would be a standard process when we work with young people, it turns out they have brought it to other employment opportunities. I’ve heard that our former employees are making proposals to their bosses about how they can improve their workplaces.
You never know if the answer could be “yes” until you make the proposal.