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Ever shared a brilliant idea in a meeting only to watch a colleague get all the credit when they "suddenly" present the same concept weeks later? You're not alone, and you're about to learn exactly how to stop this career-damaging cycle.

In this episode of Communicate to Lead, leadership expert Kele Belton reveals her proven I.D.E.A. Method. This strategic framework ensures that your ideas are heard, remembered, and, most importantly, credited to you. This isn't about being pushy or self-promotional; it's about being strategic with your intellectual contributions so you get the recognition and career advancement you deserve.

What you’ll learn:

• Why great ideas fall into the "invisible idea trap" and how to avoid it
• The complete I.D.E.A. Method: Introduce with Intention, Document Strategically, Expand Your Influence, Advocate Consistently
• "Confident Idea Anchoring" techniques that make your ideas memorable
• Strategic documentation approaches that create an undeniable paper trail
• Natural ways to expand your influence without seeming self-promotional
• A simple monthly tracking system to stay on top of your intellectual contributions
• Exact email templates and meeting scripts you can use immediately

Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/ 
• Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com 

Templates for "Introduce with Intention"

Meeting Template:

"I have an idea, I'm calling [YOUR MEMORABLE NAME]. It addresses [THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM] and could potentially [THE SPECIFIC BENEFIT]. I'd like to take the lead on developing this further and present a detailed plan by [YOUR TIMELINE]."

Email Introduction Template:

"Hi [NAME], I've been thinking about [THE CHALLENGE] and developed what I'm calling [YOUR APPROACH NAME]. I believe this could [YOUR SPECIFIC BENEFIT]. I'd love to schedule time to walk you through my initial thinking and discuss next steps."

Templates for "Document Strategically"

Follow-Up Email Template:

Subject line: "Following up on [YOUR IDEA NAME] from today's meeting"

Email body: "Hi [TEAM OR MANAGER NAME],

Following up on today's meeting, I wanted to capture the key points of the [YOUR IDEA NAME] concept I proposed:

• Core Concept: [One sentence summary of your idea]
• Business Impact: [The specific benefit or ROI you mentioned]
• Next Steps I'm Proposing: [What you want to do next]
• Timeline: [When you can deliver more details]

I'm excited to develop this further and will send a detailed proposal by [your specific date].

Best regards, [Your name]"

Templates for "Expand Your Influence"

Leadership Visibility Template:

"[MANAGER'S NAME], I've been developing the [YOUR IDEA NAME] concept we discussed, and I think it could have a significant impact on [relevant business priority]. Would you be open to me presenting this to [leadership team or broader audience] to get their input and buy-in?"

Templates for "Advocate Consistently"

Progress Check-In Template:

"Hi [NAME], I wanted to check in on the [YOUR IDEA NAME] proposal I shared. I've been conducting additional research on [specific aspect] and would like to share what I've discovered. What's the best way to move this forward?"

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