So, What's the Big Idea?

Are you that guy who's always got the next great idea for your company? Or the gal who told co-workers -- but not the boss -- about a killer idea months ago only to see a competitor beat your employer to the punch?

If so, it's safe to say you're probably not a kiss-ass, and you're also probably not the type who had to have the most gold stars in grade school. But, you are the type of employee every company should be salivating over. You're a thinker, a brainstormer, an innovator, an idea person.

So why won't anyone listen to you? Because you're not speaking up. Or maybe you are, but you're not doing it properly. There's a fine line between "influencing up," kissing up, complaining, and making the boss look bad. So, how to walk that line?

Present the idea in a professional manner, and back it up with some analysis and stats. But how do you get the opportunity to even present your big idea? BusinessWeek's Marshall Goldsmith may just have the answers. [BusinessWeek]