4 Creative Planning Tips For A Killer Whiteboard Sales Story

Not feeling too creative? But need a killer whiteboard sales story—for tomorrow’s client meeting? Find out how to ace your presentation with 4 rapid creativity tips.

In business presenting and selling, it’s tough to keep your creative edge. Let’s face it. There’s not enough time in the day, right? Wrong.

If you’re seeking creative inspiration for your killer whiteboard sales story…you’re in the right place. There is a system. A creative formula, if you will. Once you know it, you can use it. Anytime. Anywhere. Any topic.

“I could have used this yesterday!” These are the exact words a client of mine said when he saw this system. Most clients I’ve shared this with actually get a little peeved. “Why didn’t I learn this in high-school?”

Understandable. Really. When you learn how to use creative planning, you’ll see that it’s easier to keep your edge than you might have imagined.

Here are the highlights of the 4 critical steps in creative planning. Hint: use a sales opportunity you have in mind. Best ones are the ones you have coming up today, tomorrow and this week.

1. Get Visual
When working at a whiteboard, go visual. Show your product, process, service, solution in pictures and words. Don’t make the mistake we’re seeing on a lot of whiteboards.

You know the ones. The ones that are covered from top to bottom with words. If your whiteboards are entirely filled with words, you’re missing tremendous opportunity. You’re missing the chance to show your solution in pictures that everyone will instantly understand.

2. Actively Incubate
The creative process includes an incubation phase. This is referred to with lots of interesting terms from ‘soaking’ to ‘noodling’ to ‘letting it simmer.’

Whatever terms you use, allow for incubation time in planning your whiteboard sales story. Go for a walk. Visit a park. Talk to a friend from outside of work. Do something other than sitting at your desk, hammering at the keyboard.

If you’re used to putting in the hours, now it’s time to give yourself a break. Go outside of your office. Let the ideas incubate. You’re not looking for answers. You’re investing in distraction.

3. Wild Output
As the third stage, it’s now time to focus on outputs. This is a highly experimental zone. No bad ideas. No judgments. Just output.

In terms of creative thinking, this is often called the zone of wild ideas, brainstorming and creative collaboration. If you want help, get input from people on your team. Ask for collaborative output on ways to share your story.

4. Verify
This is the testing phase. It’s time to make decisions. Which idea will work within the timeframe—with this specific audience?

Verifying includes making decisions, selecting an option, practicing, rehearsing, getting feedback and refining. It’s not an instant thing.

Think of it as a critical phase. This is where you’ll work through your choices at a whiteboard, practice with a test audience, and make adjustments.

What’s the value of using these 4 phases of creativity? You’ll discover that creativity is fun. Instead of being a hassle or another thing on your overflowing to-do list, creative thinking is a critical aspect of successful sales presenting.

With a disciplined and creative approach to presenting, you’ll continuously improve. You’ll come up with new ideas faster and easier than others. You’ll try things out. Some you’ll reject. Others you’ll keep and strengthen.

Additionally, you’ll have a roadmap for building creativity across your sales teams and across your organization.

Now, the curious thing is…once you start consciously being creative, you can’t stop. It’s just too much fun and too rewarding.

With this newfound energy and enthusiasm, what do you think your clients will feel? They’ll instantly see your excitement and passion. Your authentic passion comes through loud and clear while your selling, drawing and showing solutions. That’s the secret for killer results at the whiteboard.