What’s your elevator pitch?

And another year rolls around with potential and opportunity!

Imagine this.. you are riding down in the office lift and in steps one of the global executive team. They introduce themselves and ask who you are and / or do you work in the firm.

Or you have managed to find some brief 1:1 time with someone who you really would like to work with or might be helpful in you gaining that perfect role. Or maybe you have been introduced to someone influential at a function. Potentially you are sitting in front of a recruiter about that role you want. They have your CV, however they are looking to hear about you, not a run down of the CV. What drives you, what you are passionate about, where you see your strengths and why you are right for the role.

What do you say when you only have a few moments? How do you deliver a concise message of who you are and where you are in your career? Maybe you do what many do and use your title as the key point. What happens if they ask you to explain what this further? Maybe you drop into the weeds and starting talking about your day to day rather than the critical nature of your role? If not asked to explain further, are you now sitting in an awkward silence, waiting for those elevator doors to open as quickly as possible and get you out of there. Whew.. If your title is CEO or Managing Director, a little easier as broadly understood role's, however if this is not you, do you want just your current title to define who you are in the mind of someone you just met? What about the other things that are important to you that you are involved in.

Creating an elevator pitch is tricky, as you don't want to sound like a scripted robot and what you say will depend on who you are talking to, however you will have moments available to you, where you have an opportunity to leave a strong impression. Super important if this person is potentially critical to your next step.

I have recently been working with some clients on what is a business elevator pitch. Your personal pitch is no different.

Try it now. Pitch yourself without it sounding like a scripted sell of yourself.

Hard isn't it. Spend some time getting this right. How do you leave an impression of your true self, where you are in career, your current important role and a brief moment to show your passion, ambition and remain in thoughts, long after that interaction.

Until next time Lisa