Birgit Kuester December 27, 2021 Proposal
Boilerplate has a limited shelf life. It grows stale and out of date before you realize it. Absolutely no less often than every six months you should review each one of the sections that you routinely include with your proposals. Do not rely upon an assistant to do this job for you because he or she may not have sufficiently current knowledge. Also, it`s you who are going to make the presentation to your client or supervisor, and, therefore, it`s you who will need to explain erroneous, incomplete, or perhaps even confidential information that somehow crept into your proposal.
Take care to avoid inadvertently implying commitments for actions other than those specifically stated within your plan. Do not, for example, allow an inference to be drawn that you will supply certain materials, personnel, documentation, training, or ongoing support if you do not intend to do so. Likewise, be cautious during your presentation about committing to oral agreements that are not contained in the written proposal. It is perfectly acceptable-even advisable-to outline both your obligations and those of the individual or company to whom you are submitting your proposal. Better to discuss and agree upon such items at the time of the proposal presentation than to face misunderstandings down the road.
As you move through your presentation, speak conversationally to those around you. Remember that you are not lecturing to a university class or speaking to a Rotary Club. Your presentation is a business process-even though you may be demonstrating your technical know-how-and you are endeavoring to win a contract or an assignment. It won`t be possible for you to perform as an expert-the person or company right for this job-unless you receive the go-ahead from your audience. Much more depends at this point upon your ability to express how you intend to apply your expertise than what that expertise actually is.
The importance of packaging. Contrary to what we might like to believe, people do buy books by their covers. Neatness and eye appeal count. A proposal that is hard to handle or is not professional in appearance detracts from the presenter, his or her firm or department, and the overall plan. A few extra hours spent on making the written proposal look good can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.
Some proposal writers know their field forward, backward, and sideways but are unable to express themselves well in print. If that is your situation, ask for help in writing your proposal. It is always better to collaborate with a competent writer than to risk losing the assignment.
Without reading the letter aloud, invite your audience to follow the text as you paraphrase and recap what the letter says. Ask for comments and either respond briefly to them or say that you will discuss their questions later as you reach those points in your presentation. Quickly jot down a note so that you do not forget to do so.
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