A new client recently engaged Effective Training & Communication to thoroughly enhance his client communication strategies and tactics. A part of that process is to take his typical Elevator Speech up several notches. What follows is a summary of the exercise I created for him. Follow the steps, fill in your particular details and really take your elevator speech to the top.
Introduction
Focused strategic networking can be an effective process for gaining useful information, seeking clients or allies and growing your business through mutually beneficial business relationships. And an effective, efficient and engaging Elevator Speech (ES) is an essential tool in your Strategic Networking Tool Kit.
Properly created and delivered, your ES can begin interesting and concise dialogues with strangers, generate follow-up questions and be an important first step in accomplishing your Networking Objectives. The following exercise will help you Elevate Your Elevator Speech for maximum results.
- Networking Platforms
Most Strategic Networking happens in connection with Networking Platforms – various business or industry-related workshops, seminars or events. While you may network at a lot of such Platforms in a month, limit this exercise to your top three, based on frequency of attendance, perceived value and history of results. Describe each Platform in specific details:
Networking Platform A: Name & purpose of group & event? Specific networking objective for attending that event? Demographic details about those people you would want to meet there/ network with to accomplish your objective.
Repeat for Platforms B and C.
- Your Basic Elevator Speech 2.0
Now, assume you’re at one of the above events and you meet a stranger who asks you ‘What do you do/does your company do?
First, indicate how you would respond verbally. Then, list at least three follow up questions you hope that person asks – or that you’d answer without being asked – and your effective, efficient, engaging and brief answer to each.
- Adapting Your Elevator Speech
The more you know about the stranger you’re talking with, the more specifically you can modify your ES. An effective tactic is to ‘always ask first’ so you learn what he or she does. Then, when it makes sense, you can modify your ES slightly.
Given the different types of people you may meet at these events, identify the three most likely or important categories of strangers and determine if slight modifications make sense for each.
So, there you are. Creating effective, efficient and engaging customized Elevator Speeches based on the above exercise with empower you to network more strategically with more power and success and set yourself apart from all those amateurs who never bothered to spend the time you just did.
Good for you– you reap what you sow … and so do they.