Elevating Your Speech.
You may already know that the term “Elevator Speech” refers to the powerful and succinct way you introduce and communicate the value of your expertise in conversation or when presenting yourself professionally.
Do you know why it’s called an “Elevator Speech”? The scenario to imagine is that you and an influential person you want to impress find yourselves alone together in an elevator. You have only 60 seconds to engage and pique the person’s interest in you. If you aren’t successful, when the doors open you lose the golden opportunity, forever. How do you present yourself, what you do and why they should care in a way that makes them want to continue the conversation?
Your 60-second speech can change based on where you are and to whom you are speaking, but there are always two important aspects to consider. One, among those who do what you do, what makes you different or special? Two: how can you help the person you are speaking to relate what you do to something of value to them. That second consideration means that your speech needs to be flexible,
because the most important aspect of communication is to know your audience. Have you ever spoken with a person in a technical profession who uses jargon and terms that are a mystery to you? It’s the quickest way to lose your audience. Some people really aren’t knowledgeable about the actuarial profession. In that case, you can supplement your explanation with a real-life example. That will help them begin to think about how they might help you. In addition to the explanation, you can then say what makes you and your skills standout from your peers and the impact that has on those you help.
Taking time to craft your 60-second introduction can really help you on a job interview as well, because knowing and articulating your value is essential to a winning interview. Two more thing to remember: practice your spiel and always be authentic.
