Develop and Present an Elevator Pitch

Objective:

• The learner will understand the concept and uses of an elevator pitch
• The learner will develop and present their own elevator pitch

Overview:

An elevator pitch (EP) is becoming an important item in the toolkit of most people. It doesn’t matter if you are a job seeker, business person, or gainfully employed professional, you need a powerful elevator speech (EP) to extend and support your personal brand.

Activity:

PART 1: Using a flip chart, PowerPoint or workbook the tutor will take the individual or the group through the key points of elevator pitches.

Make them care

The main mistake many people make when pitching is listing their products and services and go into detail about processes. People want to know how you can help them, or solve a problem they have. Emphasise benefits and solutions rather than features.

Your Second Word Should Be A Verb                        

What do you do? For others? This also forces you into thinking about your results and accomplishments. Get a list of powerful verbs, look them up.

You Have To ‘Get’ What’s Unique About You and Your Business

What differentiates you, what causes you to stand out from the competition? This is what you want in your elevator pitch.

A Few Sentences Is Usually Enough

Think short and sweet. Powerful is not lengthy or full of too many words. When you force yourself into a few sentences, it causes you to think about each word more carefully so that each one tends to convey more.

It Has To Roll Off Your Tongue

You need to write it down and practice it so it becomes second nature to you. This will support a confident appearance when you say it.

You Have To Believe It

If you develop an EP that embarrasses you or causes you to cringe, you either need to boost your confidence or change what you’re saying about yourself.

Give It Attitude

If your EP doesn’t have energy or enthusiasm, then expect it to be received the same way. We like people with confidence and a bit of attitude about their abilities. You’re not bragging, but proud.

Smile

It’s hard not to love people who smile. It communicates warmth and confidence. You come across as engaging and someone people would like to know more about.

Shut Up

Once you’ve delivered your EP, stop yourself from saying anything else. I know this is a tough one, but people often blather on, which deflates the impact of your ES. When you stop talking, it will also prompt the person you are introducing yourself to to ask about you or introduce themselves. Both results are great.

Leave Them Wanting More

A great test of a powerful EP is if they ask you about what you’ve just said. Go have fun with this. Next time you attend a professional meeting, say your EP, shut up and see what happens.

Have A Few EP’s In Your Toolkit

EP’s are not one size fits all. Your audience will be a determining factor in whatspecific message you want to convey. Different aspects of your products or services will appeal to different people and companies

Once you have your primary EP, think through the various groups of people you are likely to use it with. This will help you decide what needs to get tweaked to make it just right for that group of people.

Your elevator pitch is among the first things you do that will form an impression with others. You want it to be professional and well delivered.

PART 2: Each member of the group has 10 minutes to devise their own elevator pitch.

PART 3: Each member of the group delivers their elevator pitch with the tutor and the rest of the group giving feedback and suggestions for improvement.

PART 4: This can be developed further by videoing each person so they can see for themselves.

Skill Development:

Planning, preparation, presentation, feedback review, reflection