How to create a confident elevator pitch

Pitching yourself- some love it, some hate it. When attending a networking event or a new business opportunity presents itself, it’s beneficial to have a well-rehearsed elevator pitch to pull out the bag in an instant and make you stand out from the crowd.

People can form impressions quickly, so it helps to get your message across clearly and with confidence. Make the time count.

So let’s start to think about what you need to get across. It’s not just about what you say, but also about how you engage with the other person and display the right behaviours to build rapport. People are more likely to support you if they like and trust you.

What should your elevator pitch include?

Take some time out and consider the following:

• What do you want them to remember about you as a person and what can you offer?
• How could you fit in with their organisation or clientele?
• Consider how you can hook them – think about three areas of passion, interest or objectives.
• What are you working on now and what are your aims for the future?
• Engage with them by asking questions – remember you’re not quoting your CV but engaging in real conversation.
• What’s your call to action that’s value-added – perhaps it’s to stay in touch or offer something to them?
• Remember the behaviours and the rapport building.

Do:

• be aware of your body language and aim to appear open and engaged
• make eye contact
• use their name at least once
• really listen and show genuine interest in what they have to say
  be enthusiastic.

Don’t:

• corner them and keep them too long
• get hung up on your job title – it says nothing about who you really are
  forget it’s a real conversation and not a speech.

Practise your pitch

Once you’ve thought about this, start to formulate your pitch and reflect on the required behaviours. Then get yourself in front of a mirror, camera, or voice recorder and practise, practise, practise.

You’ll learn so much about your mannerisms, buzz words you always use, and tone of voice, so don’t skip this part no matter how uncomfortable this may feel.

If you’re feeling brave, and to get maximum benefit, enlist the help of a trusted friend or colleague to pitch to.

Ask them to be completely honest in their feedback; what’s the point otherwise? If you’re feeling really brave, ask them to ‘step into your shoes’ and copy both physically and word for word how you introduced yourself.

Just 10 seconds of your greeting as they see and hear you will tell you what no amount of practising in front of a mirror will. Do it, you’ll learn something about yourself you didn’t know.

By putting in the time to create your pitch in advance, practise it, refine it, and practise some more, you’ll set yourself up to deliver your pitch with confidence and get your message across.