tips on designing and delivering a great 30-second elevator speech

1. The Elevator
Speech…tell me
about yourself
{ Barbara Reinhalter
December 20, 2012

2. Overview
• 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

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

4. What is an Elevator Speech?
• 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

5. 1. Who are you
and what do
{ 2.
you do?
Why should
someone want
to speak with
you again
and/or hire
you?
You have only 30 seconds!

6. 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

7. Essential elements of a
dynamite Elevator Speech
• Powerful language
• Concise
• Clear
• Tell a story
• Targeted
• Goal oriented
• Plant a hook

8. How to design your winning
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

9. Now what…
• 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

10. • Too long
• Jargon filled
• Passive words
• Not compelling
• Starts with “I am”
• You are not comfortable
Please avoid these!

11. Let’s review
• 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?

12. Participant Survey
How likely is it that you will use a powerful
Elevator Speech?
1. Very likely
2. Somewhat likely
3. Not likely

13. Participant Survey
Was the pace of the training comfortable?
1. Just right
2. Too slow
3. Too fast

14. Participant Survey
Did you like the training?
1. Very much
2. OK
3. Not too much