An elevator speech

Short and clear. That’s the winning combo

By Lucy Rosen

An elevator speech is a short, concise message that sums up who you are, what you do and what makes you unique. 

Developing an effective elevator speech is crucial for networking, job interviews and other professional interactions. 

Developing an effective elevator speech is essential for making a strong first impression in professional settings. By identifying your objective, knowing your audience, focusing on your unique value proposition, keeping it short and sweet, practicing, and being flexible, you can create an elevator speech that effectively communicates who you are and what you have to offer.

Practice your speech until it feels natural.

Here are some tips on creating your own elevator speech.

Identify your objective: Before you start crafting your elevator speech, determine what you want to achieve with it. Introducing yourself to someone new? Hoping to land a job interview or sell your product/service? Identifying your objective helps craft
your message.

Know your audience: Tailor your speech to your audience. Think about who they are and what they’re interested in, helping you to choose the right language and tone.

Focus on your unique value proposition: Highlight what sets you apart from others in your field. What unique skills, experience or perspective do you bring to the table that others don’t? 

Keep it short and sweet: You’ve got about 30 seconds. Be concise and get to the point quickly. Start with a strong opening sentence, grab your audience’s attention, and follow it up with a brief summary of your background,and unique
value proposition.

Practice, practice, practice: Practice your speech until it feels natural. Record yourself and listen back to identify areas for improvement. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend until you feel confident in your delivery.

Be flexible: Be able to adapt and tweak your speech to different situations and audiences.