oCan Be Challenging!
We’re familiar with the Elevator Speech. It’s delivered at a Networking Event, Social Function, or Seminar. The leader announces, “Before we get started, let’s go around the room. When it’s your turn; stand up, tell us who you are and what you do. Give us your Elevator Speech.”
That is a “Speaking Opportunity” where a varying number of people are in attendance. The time to present your personal infomercial is usually fifteen to ninety seconds. Your goal is to have everyone know exactly what you do. Then they can decide if it’s something they want more information on, or not, and would be comfortable referring you to someone who might be a prospect.
If you don’t have an Elevator Speech, or want to tweak your present one, Here is a proven Elevator Speech Template and Worksheet.
The One-on-One Elevator Speech is different and challenging because of time constraints, the number of people hearing it (only one), and the goals.
One-on-One Elevator Speeches can be used at cocktail parties, when standing in line at a theater and making small talk with others, and, of course, before an event where it has been suggested to “arrive early and Network.”
If the Elevator Speech is a mini-presentation, the One-on-One Elevator Speech is a micro-presentation.
One of the challenges in these situations is to meet as many prospects as possible, and not to waste major time on minor possibilities.
Here are the Rules.
No Selling!
- Selling, if it is to occur, will be later, after you’ve had a conversation where you’ve discussed the details of your offerings and the investment.
No Verbal SPAM.
- SPAMMING is sending unsolicited messages, especially advertising.
- You’ve listened to someone go on and on with their Elevator Speech telling you about all the products, services, and benefits you’d receive if you did business with them, haven’t you?
- Don’t do that to anyone listening to your Elevator Speech!
Here are the Goals.
Clarity.
- The recipient of your Elevator Speech should know precisely what you do.
- Use plain, simple language and avoid buzz words, acronyms, and techno-speak.
- You won’t impress people with words they don’t know. You’ll lose them!
- If they don’t GET IT! they’ll never be a prospect.
- Use plain, simple language and avoid buzz words, acronyms, and techno-speak.
Speed.
- Three sentences, maximum, should let you both know if a future conversation should be considered and scheduled.
Disqualify People.
- Everyone is not a prospect for your products and services.
- You are not a potential buyer of every offering you hear.
- Disqualifying people is a good thing!
Try to use Your WHY.
- Per Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle, “People don’t buy What you do, they buy Why you do it.”
- Your WHY is also the fifth floor on your Elevator Speech Template.
- My WHY is:
- “Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities!”
- Bottom line: If someone I’m delivering my Elevator Speech to doesn’t agree with that statement, the odds are, we won’t be doing business.
- That’s OK, and time we both move on and talk to others.
Get a Response.
- A good one would be:
- “Interesting. Tell me more.”
Use a Question that Asks for a Response.
- Example:
- “You don’t know anyone who has an interest in those products or services, do you?”
Here is My One-on-One Elevator Speech.
I’m Fred Miller.
“I speak, coach, and write about networking, public speaking, and presentation skills.”
A good response would be,
“That sounds interesting. Tell me more.”
If they don’t respond, I say:
“Everyone who hires me believes ‘Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities’.”
I continue, soliciting a response, with:
“You don’t know anyone who wants to improve those skills, do you?”
Important
I prefer the words “Hire Me” instead of. . .
“I work with people who. . .
“I help companies. . .
Hire Me says, “I’m Proud of what I do.”
Hire Me says, “I’m Good at what I do.”
Hire Me makes it clear I don’t do this for free!
Hire Me can be an excellent Dis-Qualifier, especially with the One-on-One Audience.
If Hire Me turns them off – fine!
• Move on to someone who might “want to know more,” and appreciates the message,
“Hire Me,” implies.
If you don’t like the phrase, “Hire Me,” try one of these:
- Businesses and individuals pay me to. . .
- Businesses put me on their payroll to. . .
- People give me money to. . .
Depending on your profession, one of the following could fit:
- People become my patients. . .
- Individuals and companies become our clients. . .
- Homeowners have their major appliances serviced by us. . .
Non-Profits might say. . .
- People write us checks. . .
- Individuals give us money. . .
- Companies donate to us. . .
- Service clubs volunteer for us. . .
A Presentation has two components, Content and Delivery. Content is the message. Delivery is presenting it. Of the two components, Delivery trumps Content. On the Delivery side, NonVerbal trumps Verbal. “We believe what we see!”
You might have the greatest Elevator Speech ever developed, but if it isn’t delivered in a manner that quickly educates, entertains, and explains it well, your recipient, they will never GET IT!
Your next step is to Practice – Practice – Practice delivering your One-on-One Elevator Speech.
Use this formula and I guarantee it will be absolutely, positively – NO SWEAT!
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About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and the author of the book,
“NO SWEAT Public Speaking!” and “NO SWEAT Elevator Speech!”
Businesses, Individuals, and Organizations hire him because they want to improve their
Networking, Public Speaking, and Presentation Skills.
They do this because they know:
Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
They also know:
We perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality, and we like to work with Experts.
He shows them how to:
Develop, Practice, and Deliver ‘Knock Your Socks Off Presentations!’ with –
NO SWEAT!
Services:
- Keynote Speaker
- Workshop Facilitator
- Breakout Sessions
- Public Speaking and Presentation Coaching
Topics:
- Lessening The Fear of Public Speaking with – NO SWEAT!
- Crafting Your Elevator Speech, Floor by Floor with – NO SWEAT!
- Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities.
- We are All Self-Employed!
Fred E. Miller
[email protected]
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/fredemiller
http://www.slideshare.net/fredmiller
https://www.udemy.com/no-sweat-elevator-speech/#/314-517-8772
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1 Comment
I am so grateful that I discovered Fred Miller on LinkedIn as a result of Jim McCraigh’s invitation for me to join the Consultants’ Connection . We never know how our blessings will come nor do we always know the source.
I have been enlightened by just a few of the publications that I have read. As a result, I will get me not only opportunities that I seek to speak, facilitate, write, consult, and train, but also, the increased income that I am worth.
Thank you very very much for sharing your knowledge with us. You are the best and I hope to meet both you and Jim real soon this year.