I pulled my car up to the parking garage at the usual time, parking in the company garage. As I walked toward the elevator, I mentally shifted gears from commute to workday prep, passing the CEO’s prime parking spot on the way. He was in the process of exiting his car. I picked up speed, hurrying to the elevator and punching the up arrow. Silently praying he would move slowly enough to catch the next one, I pressed the button for my floor. But sure enough, he soon stepped through the open elevator doors. I froze. What should I say? I had nothing, other than an awkward “good morning.” My mind was completely blank. It was 2007, and phones-as-social-insulator weren’t quite as common as they are now, so I couldn’t even pretend to be absorbed by my phone. We rode in complete silence, and I stared blankly at the doors until I got off at my floor. I kicked myself all day for not being able to seize the opportunity that landed at my feet!
Elevator pitches—concise, practiced statements summing up your work experience and goals—are much more effective when you’ve prepared and practiced them before you need to use them! Of course, they don’t usually happen in a literal elevator, but they are named as such because they’re meant to be short enough for the proverbial elevator chance meeting. If I’d have had my pitch ready to go, I’d have been able to introduce myself, assertively and memorably that day in 2007!
Sixteen years later, in addition to my corporate career, I’m now a personal branding consultant. I help my clients formulate their own elevator pitches, so they aren’t ever caught off-guard the way I was. Read on for my three top tips for effective elevator pitches.
- First, define your brand. Once you’ve done the work of defining your personal brand, creating an elevator pitch is easy. You’ll know how to clearly communicate who you are, what you offer, and where you want to go—all you need for a successful elevator pitch! A personal brand is more than a website and social media profiles—it is clarity about your career identity and path! (Just getting started on your personal branding journey? All You Branding can help. ) Doing the work of personal branding makes pitching easy.
- Second, know your audience and know what to include. Once you’ve defined your personal brand, you’ll know how to communicate what you offer to employers, collaborators, and colleagues. Write out several versions of elevator pitches for different audiences (find great advice on that here). An elevator pitch can help you in interviews, at networking events, or in surprise encounters! It can also help you maintain consistency as you communicate your brand on social media and other web-based networking platforms.
- And last, practice, practice, practice. Once you’ve written your pitches, practice them so they sound natural and confident. Spend some time in the shower or on your morning walk pretending to introduce yourself to a variety of folks. Do it enough that it feels easy! Use networking events to practice this new skill until it’s second nature.
I can’t know what might have happened if I’d have been prepared that day in the elevator with my company’s CEO, but I have the tools and confidence now to know I’ll be able to handle any introductions and opportunities that come my way! I work hard to ensure my clients feel the same way. Need help? I’ve got you covered! Schedule a consultation today.
