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The Elevator Speech…tell me about yourself

Barbara Reinhalter

December 20, 2012

• What is an Elevator Speech?

• Why is an Elevator Speech important for professional success?

• Essential elements of a powerful Elevator Speech

• How to design a great Elevator Speech

• Participant Survey

• Knowledge Quiz

Overview

Networking opportunities abound in our daily lives. Always be ready to market yourself!

• Summary of your professional skills, accomplishments and aspirations in 30 seconds.

• Clearly differentiates the unique product --“YOU”

• An effective marketing tool that can get you in the door of that ideal client or employer

• Can be customized for different audiences

What is an Elevator Speech?

{1. Who are you

and what do you do?

2. Why should someone want to speak with you again and/or hire you?

You have only 30 seconds!

Why is an Elevator Speech important?

• You only have 30-60 seconds to make a great first impression

• People’s attention span is short

• Our lives are face-paced today

• Powerful language• Concise• Clear• Tell a story• Targeted• Goal oriented• Plant a hook

Essential elements of a dynamite Elevator Speech

• Write a page of your biggest accomplishments. Do not hold back!

• Write a story about how you have benefited people the most. Tell a story. Be visual

• What is your bottom-line goal?• Write 10 plus action statements that will spur

you towards your goal• Make sure you answer the two BIG questions

– who you are/do and why someone should speak with you

How to design your winning elevator speech

• Boil the speech down to 30 seconds -- Use a kitchen timer

• Practice in front of a mirror• Delivery must be natural• Tape yourself and share with trusted

colleagues – Practice!• Design different versions for different

audiences

Now what…

• Too long• Jargon filled• Passive words• Not compelling• Starts with “I am”• You are not comfortable

Please avoid these!

• What is an 30-second Elevator Speech?• Why is it important?• What two questions must it answer?• Essential Elements?• How to craft the Elevator Speech?• What should you avoid doing?

Let’s review

How likely is it that you will use a powerful Elevator Speech?

Participant Survey

1. Very likely

2. Somewhat likely

3. Not likely

Was the pace of the training comfortable?

Participant Survey

1. Just right

2. Too slow

3. Too fast

Did you like the training?

Participant Survey

1. Very much

2. OK

3. Not too much