Nail the pitch and stick the landing: How to propose & deliver major technical projects

Know your audience - identify who can actually say “yes” to your project and understand their priorities, fears and goals

Frame proposals in terms of business value and priorities of decision makers, not engineering preferences or team pain points

Include detailed cost-benefit analysis with specific numbers and concrete examples of time/resource savings

Address risks upfront and provide clear mitigation strategies for stakeholders’ biggest concerns

Create incremental execution plans with immediate benefits at each stage rather than long waterfall releases

Build escape hatches and scope-cutting options into the plan - be ready to stop at any point while still delivering value

Break down technical implementation details to show exact time/effort required across teams and systems

Demonstrate your credibility and track record for delivering similar work successfully

Communicate proactively through regular check-ins, status updates and alignment meetings

Focus on how the project helps solve existing business priorities rather than trying to change leadership’s priorities