For example, maybe you’re telling your friend about a great idea for a group vacation, and your friend loves adventure. Your hook might be a short description of all the fun outside sports available in the area.

Tell a story about your idea. You don’t have to start with an anecdote, but you do need to present your idea in a coherent way, with a beginning, middle, and end. For instance, if you’re trying to convince your friend to go on vacation, bring up the idea in a broad sense, and then launch into why you’ve picked a great vacation place. Finish with an appeal to your friend to come with you. [3] X Research source Try talking it over with a friend you’re not trying to convince first. See if they understand what you’re wanting to say.

For instance, maybe you’re trying to get your brother to help you with an animal rescue. If your brother tends to make emotional choices, play up the poor, sad animals who need love and a home. On the other hand, if your brother relies on statistics and logic, discuss how much of a difference rescues make using numbers; talk about how many animals they keep off the street and how they prevent overpopulation by spaying and neutering animals.

For example, if you’re trying to get a recycling program off the ground at your kids’ school, discuss how the city will provide recycling bins and how you already have volunteers to help do the work. Keep in mind, this will require that you do some groundwork first, such as researching online what the city will provide or calling to see if they’ll give you bins.

For instance, instead of complaining about never being able to go to the gym, suggest setting up a gym at your office.

For instance, if you’re in a meeting and your boss is asking you to brainstorm, try not to censor yourself too much. Throw the idea out there, even if it seems a little weird. It might get a discussion going that gets you someplace much more interesting. You just have to be brave enough to open your mouth. Your boss may ask for creative meeting places for the next brainstorming suggestions. You might think saying “at the water park” sounds a little crazy, and perhaps it is. However, maybe it will get someone else to think of someplace fun, like having an outdoor meeting at a regular park near the office.

For instance, maybe you want to suggest having a small gym at work. Your boss may just see this as an unneeded expense. However, you might note that it would make for a healthier workforce, meaning fewer sick days.

If you still think your idea is good and you got a lackluster response from your boss, try bringing it up again later. It may be that your boss’s response actually had nothing to do with your idea. Maybe they were just having a bad week. Alternatively, if they seem to like the idea but were hesitant about certain aspects, try altering it a bit before bringing it up again. However, don’t suggest it too many times. If you try a couple of times and don’t get anywhere, it’s probably time to stop.

Plus, most people don’t have enough energy to steal other people’s ideas. They’re too busy pursuing their own ideas. If you’re still feeling nervous, just stick to telling people you know are trustworthy. Avoid people who have tried to steal credit in the past.

Blogs are great way to share your ideas with other people. You can reach people you know through your writing, as well as a wider audience. You can also try other types of social media, such as networking sites, micro-blogging sites, or video sites.

For instance, if you have an idea about how to help traffic flow in your neighborhood, contact your local representatives or traffic department. You can email, write a letter, call, or show up in person. Most government websites have contact information for officials. If you have an idea about how to make voting easier, contact your national representatives. Find their contact information on the government website, and call, write, or visit to present your idea. Some government websites even have areas specifically for sharing your ideas. For instance, the U. S. Department of Transportation asks for feedback at https://www. transportation. gov/BeyondTraffic/ShareYourIdeas/Submission.

Check the company’s website to see if they have a feedback form. Some will also have feedback forms in the store. You can also call the company’s customer service to offer a suggestion.