I come up with ideas all the time—and in all the strangest places—like when I'm drying my hair, driving to or from work or just before I fall asleep. Sound familiar?

My ideas might revolve around article topics, new initiatives I can take on at work or even personal endeavors like ideas for the next family vacation. While these ideas might be varied in nature, there's typically a common theme: I want someone else to get onboard with my idea.

So, whether your idea is a large one that requires a movement to support it, or you simply want to influence another person, Harvard Business Review contributor John Butman recommends these key steps for getting others on your idea bandwagon, as we share in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

1. What is my purpose? Butman says that people are driven to go public with their ideas for all kinds of reasons—whether it's for fame, advancement or even a personal cause or passion. He says those who gain genuine, long-lasting influence are the ones who want to create positive change for other people. So, you need to determine why you are pursing this idea. What do you want others to get from this? And more important, what do you want to gain from this? He points out that the more you want to help others, the greater the influence you will have.

2. How does my personal narrative convey the idea? To get others to respond, to feel connected to your idea, you have to evoke emotion. One way to create emotion is to tell your personal story to others. Why are you passionate about this idea or this cause? What was the personal spark inside you that led to this effort? Share your story with others. Butman says, "If you can move people with an idea, they will embrace it on a gut level."

3. How can people put my idea into practice? To turn ideas into tangible action, they have to be useful to people in their everyday lives. Determine how your idea can be easily adopted by others on daily basis. " The more people use an idea, the more they will believe in it," states Butman.

4. Who do I really want to reach? This might seem like an obvious question, but people often struggle with the basics. Who is your target audience? Who will be most affected by your idea? Take the time to identify the audiences in which you can make an impact. Says Butman, "The more diverse audiences you can reach, the broader your influence will be."

5. How does my idea connect with a greater "thinking journey?" As Butman points out, most ideas are not completely original. They might enhance, extend or support an existing idea or movement. If that's the case, be transparent and give credit where credit is due. This will lend to more credibility. For example, I would not be the first person to come up with the idea to go to Disney World for vacation. Millions of families have gone before my family. However, I can share ideas of what other families did at Disney World to further convince my own family that it's the right choice for our next vacation. It's a simple concept that can be very powerful in a work setting, bringing you a level of transparency and authenticity with others. Butman says that when you give as much of it away as you can, people will be more likely to credit you.

Try these key strategies for adoption and watch your next idea blossom.

Source: John Butman is the author of Breaking Out: How to Build Influence in a World of Competing Ideas (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013) and founder of the content development firm Idea Platforms, Inc. He is available for speaking and consulting.