Making a pitch stand out

A good pitch is hard to ignore, but how do you go about writing and delivering one?

Here, Dave talks you through his tips for pitching success, thinking about the words you choose and how you go about delivering them.

Consider your personal style:

• Do you find pitching easy or hard?
• Have you had much opportunity to practice?

If you’re not getting formal chances to practice your pitching you can still informally practice the same techniques in your regular activities:

• Make an effort to speak up in seminars and classes and practice talking to the group making short but well-crafted points
• Take up opportunities to informally tell your friends and housemates about your ideas, but try out different formulations of explanation and style rather than just chat. If they complain you’re pitching ask them to help you practice properly!

Most of us are unconsciously pitching most of the time; whenever we try and get ideas across or persuade a friend of something, we’re pitching! You can weave these ideas into your everyday activities to practise the techniques.