The Best Approach to Communicating Your Elevator Pitch

There is no stranger danger than figuring out how to explain what you do at holiday parties.

Yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year: elevator pitch season...

Maybe it's the hardwired childhood rules about people you don't know (don't engage, even if they offer candy), or maybe you just don't know what to say about your job when you introduce yourself to new people at parties. Maybe you do, but you're not sure it's really connecting. Whatever the deal there is something very challenging about describing what you do in a succinct, interesting way.

For years, your job title and company you worked at was enough. Maybe it still is if you're say, the CEO of Facebook. For the rest of us in our mid-careers with big dreams, there is a dawning realization that if we're going to build anything great, including a reputation, we're going to need a great network, solid sponsorship and a major part of that is nailing your elevator pitch, aka you or your unique value prop. 

This holiday, my gift to you is a few strategies to approach your elevator pitch.

1. Know what you want this elevator pitch to achieve
   If you're looking for new opportunities, holiday parties can be organic networking events. Before you get your nog on, figure out what kind of connection would most help you move forward. 
   
   Are you looking for:
   A new job?
   Investment?
   People to join your team?
   
   This dictates how you frame your narrative. Sometimes, it's as simple as saying it outright: "we're actually hiring/raising our Series A" to the end of the pitch.
   
   If you're seeking new opportunities, the elevator pitch itself needs to direct the listener to the relevant skills and results you want to be known for to hook the interest of anyone looking to hire or partner with someone with your talents. 
   
   THIS IS YOUR SITUATION
   You work at a big firm and know it's time to move up a level, if not at your company, somewhere else. You know you want to do some parts of your job but move away from others. You're looking to make connections with people who might know of jobs but don't necessarily want to be super outright about it. 
   
   INSTEAD OF:
   "I [live in a fixed static state/am my job title] at [company]" which kind of closes things off to a discussion...
   
   "I'm on the business development team at Google"
   
   TRY:
   "I [highlight the thing you like doing] and moving into [thing you'd like to move toward]"
   
   "I negotiate international partnerships and am moving into the consumer package goods space"
   
   If they're interested, someone will ask you where you do that.
   Feel free to be a bit coy... "Right now? At Google." 
   This implies there's room for growth!

2. Know the elevator pitch's key components 
   
   They are:

• What you do

• For whom

• How

• BONUS: Why/what's the benefit

Here's mine: I guide ambitious mid-career women to find their personal brand story & articulate their value so they can get the sponsorship they need to get into the leadership positions they want.

Here it is broken down: 

• What I do = what problem do you solve = articulating value

• For whom = who do I serve = ambitious mid-career women

• How = what collateral do I deliver = personal brand stories

• Why = what's in it for the people I serve = so mid-career women can be leaders
  

  What's yours?

  3. Know you're going to repeat it to death (embrace it)

  Back to back parties can be exhausting but the networker knows holiday parties are a fertile testing ground for your newly formed elevator pitch. The only way it gets stronger is by repeating it, getting a reaction and adjusting. Try your pitch on 5 people, notice what people spark to, are they your demo?, if so, adjust one word or phrase that's working or not. Be a scientist - each new party is a fertile testing ground.
  
  THIS DECEMBER ONLY:
  I'm making time for 10 1:1 30 MIN CONSULTATIONS to give feedback around what you’re putting out there right now (via your LinkedIn, About Me, Founding story, elevator pitch, what have you) and take a deeper look at what could move you forward.
  
  THIS IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT FOR:
  - Job transitions & career pivoters who need to tell a new, elevated career story
  - Mid-career women ascending at their organizations and know they need a better leadership narrative
  - Mission-driven founders who need to be seen as the visionary leaders they are to gain investment they need
  
  IF YOU’RE INTERESTED:

1. Connect with me at ac@acelectric.co & send the narrative/site you’d like me to evaluate.

2. I’ll send a schedule link to the first 10 people who respond. (N.B. I love hearing your story, but we are most effective when we concentrate on one link/piece of info/writing)

Looking forward to being of service and helping you crush 2020!