Why You—and Your Business—Need an Effective Elevator Speech
Everyone has heard about the importance of a good elevator speech, but how many of you have got one down? One of our clients recently asked us to lead a workshop to help improve their elevator speech and their approach to the business development dialogue, which we were happy to do. As a result, I also wanted to share these pointers with all of you.
With a proper elevator speech, the listener will understand what you do; they will remember you and how you made them feel—and most of all, they won’t feel the urge to get away or tune you out because you’re rambling.
Every good elevator speech should be:
Short and memorable. Have a one-sentence version with just your name, a relevant personal connection, and a brief hint about what you can do for them; and have a 30-second version that refers briefly to the types of problems you solve. Never ramble!
Focused on your niche, not a laundry list. If you just rattle off a long list of your skills and experiences, you may lose their interest or sound like everyone else. Have confidence in your niche—the type of client or customer you serve best, and how you solve specific, painful, common problems in the field. That way, you'll sound like an expert they need to know better.
Delivered with confidence. Write it out and practice it. The prep time will pay off with a smoother, more confident presentation.
When it comes to elevator speeches, I need to thank to my friend and coach Chala Dincoy, The Repositioning Expert, who helped me refine my own elevator speech as part of a broader strategy that transformed DCC’s PR and marketing. She taught me well.
If you need help fine-tuning your elevator speech or other key messaging, or if you'd like us to lead a workshop for your team, please contact me.