An elevator pitch is defining who you are and what you do in a few brief sentences and in a way that is both engaging and memorable.
You might ask why you need an elevator pitch especially if you are not even looking for a new role. I would encourage you to think of your elevator pitch as an extension of your personal brand. It’s a way of leaving a lasting impression in a few short well thought out sentences. It is much harder to do on the fly, especially if you are meeting an influencer and feel flustered. Far better to practice in advance what you would want to say if you met the group CEO or an industry leader in an unexpected place.
An ideal elevator pitch will concisely convey who you are, what you do, and why you are good at it.
Build your elevator pitch with these four elements:
- An anecdote that captures a key characteristic (hint – your career compass will help with the key characteristic).
- The twist: How this one characteristic (or some other thing that might usually be overlooked) enhances your ability to do the job.
- The skill: Your ‘sweet spot’.
- The pitch: What your career goal is, the one thing you would love a shot at, or the one thing you want to leave this person with. (This should alter for each situation and person you are speaking to.)
If you have not got one yet, develop your own elevator pitch. Think of it in the structure of the four key parts: the anecdote, the twist, the skills, and the pitch.
Here’s an example from one of my clients (not her real name):
‘Hi, my name is Angela. I love solving problems. I was the kid that took the clock to pieces to see how it worked (anecdote). For the last twenty years I’ve been in IT. Understanding, sorting out and structuring data is what I’m superb at (skill), but I also love working in a team and watching my people thrive and solve complex problems. My original training was as a solution architect, so I’m as strong at designing solutions as I am at solving them. (twist). If you know of anyone looking for a thoughtful, dynamic technical leader, I’d love to talk to them (pitch).’
To build your elevator pitch, start with what are your core strengths based on your current role. Then look at adding an anecdote of how you got into this line of work. That could be a chance meeting, what you were like as a kid, or how others describe you. The anecdote is the part that makes it memorable, as we are hard-wired to remember stories, and an anecdote is a mini-story. Then think of your twist. What is that you do, that others in your role/field/industry don’t typically do? Is it a way of working or an unusual mix of skills? Finally, think about the pitch is you want to make. I recommend you have a few options depending on who you might meet. This might include a pitch for a new job, a recommendation to find an ally or mentor, or an opportunity to meet up with this person to explore ways of collaborating. You can work out what this needs to be but have at least three pitches you have developed.
If you are struggling with the anecdote and twist, then speak to a few trusted colleagues or even family and friends who have known you a long time and see how they describe you for some inspiration.
Once you have developed your elevator pitch, practice, practice, practice. Take a few weeks to learn it word for word. That way, it will be effortless when you are in the right place with the right person and want to convey your brilliance quickly.
Would you like a free copy of my latest book The Female EDGE? Join me for my exclusive FREE webinar on Tuesday 21st September at 1 pm (BST), where I’ll be sharing some of the tips from The Female EDGE and giving you a chance to win a free copy. If you want to hear first-hand how the EDGE model can accelerate your leadership ambitions and have a chance to win a free signed copy of my book, register your interest here.