|
|
Phone interview scheduled
in the next few days?
Check
out my latest E-Book to give you the edge in the employment
process.
“Phone
Interview Skills Sharpened Right Here!” E-Book
shows you the steps you need to take, and what
to say, to have a successful phone interview.
The
E-Book is instantly downloadable and chock full of great
advice, links and resources that are easy to understand
and use immediately.
Click
here for details |
Wouldn’t
you like to feel more comfortable walking into a room
full of strangers?
My
“Surefire Networking Tips” E-Book
was written precisely to help you achieve success
in networking situations.
You’ll
learn:
- What to do before, during and after attending an event
- Techniques to de-stress the entire networking process.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
An
e-mail newsletter designed to transform the way you think about your career…
and to help you face Mondays with a smile!
by Dale Kurow, M.S., Career & Executive Coach
Welcome,
new subscribers and loyal readers!
I
love NYC this time of year. The tourists are riding around on double-decker
buses and the locals have gone to their country or beach houses.
That
leaves plenty of space in Central Park to have picnics and just be lazy.
Here’s a photo of the lawn in front of Belvedere Castle in the park
and the packed, ever-present tourist buses on Fifth Avenue.
We
are planning a picnic in July with the new friends we made while visiting
in Italy. Pictures next month.
From
July to September I will be rerunning some of my most popular articles.
This month’s feature: Create Your Dynamic Elevator Speech. Having
a succinct, yet compelling elevator speech will serve you well any time.
Even on the beach!
Wishing
you a wonderful start to Summer!
To Your Success,
So,
what’s an elevator speech, and how do you get one?
What
Is It?
An
elevator speech is a short (15-30 second, 150 word) sound bite that succinctly
and memorably introduces you. It spotlights your uniqueness. It focuses
on the benefits you provide. And it is delivered effortlessly.
Elevator
speeches are intended to prepare you for very brief, chance encounters
in an elevator. But elevator speeches are not just for elevators! You
should use it whenever you want to introduce yourself to a new contact.
That could be in the supermarket, waiting in line at an ATM or when you
get your morning latte.
So,
who better than you to describe with passion, precision and persuasiveness
what you do? A great elevator speech makes a lasting first impression,
showcases your professionalism and allows you to position yourself.
And
if you want to network successfully, you need an elevator speech!
How
to Prepare an Elevator Speech, or What’s My Line?
Now
for a short course in preparing your elevator speech, or unique selling
proposition.
First,
and most important, think in terms of the benefits your clients or customers
derive from your services.
Trust me, no one is going to be riveted if you say:
“Hi,
my name is Stanley Manly, and I’m a public relations executive with
twenty years of experience.”
Or:
“Hi,
I’m Sally Hopeful, and I’m an executive recruiter.
Two
big yawns.
What’s
In It for Me?
Do
you recall that old radio station, WII-FM: What’s In It For Me?!
If
you remember that people are always more interested in how you can help
them, you’re on the right track. Keep that top of mind when composing
your speech.
Here’s
how to improve the two examples mentioned above:
“Hi,
my name is Stanley Manly, and I help inventors tell the world about their
inventions.”
“Hi,
I’m Sally Hopeful. I partner with companies that need to find talented
people to help their business growth and become more profitable.”
Now,
you’ve got my attention!
Let’s
use my elevator speech before and after as an example:
Here’s
my before version (and I wondered why people looked at me with a frozen
smile!):
“Hi,
I’m Dale Kurow, and I’m a career and executive coach. I hold
a Master’s Degree in Career Counseling and have been trained by
a master level coach. (Who cares!) I’ve been an HR director for
a multinational cosmetic company, run a PR agency and taught college-level
business courses. (So what!) I believe that coaching can be the catalyst
to change your life. (Are you asleep yet?)
See
how that was all about me, me, me?
Now
for the revised version:
“Hi,
I’m Dale Kurow, and I help people become more successful at their
work. For example, I’ve helped a client change jobs with a 40% salary
increase, I’ve helped a client develop the skills to deal with a
difficult boss, and I’ve helped a manager devise new ways to keep
her staff motivated.”
Here
are a few more examples:
I
know an Avon representative who says:
“I
help women look beautiful.”
Or
a business coach that says:
“I
help you get more clients than you know what to do with.”
And
here’s my favorite, one that is used by an IRS agent:
“I’m
a government fund-raiser.”
Action
Steps
So,
here’s what you need to do to craft your elevator speech.
First,
write down the “deliverables” -- the services or features
that you provide. Then, think in terms of the benefits that your clients
or employer could derive from these services. You could use several successful
client outcomes, as I did.
Once
you’ve got that written, create an opening sentence that will grab
the listener’s attention, as our Avon representative did above.
The best openers leave the listener wanting more information. And you
do not have to include your title, especially if you think it has a negative
connotation (an IRS agent, for example).
Finally,
your elevator speech must roll off your tongue with ease. Practice your
speech in front of the mirror and with friends. Record it on your answering
machine, and listen to it. Do you sound confident? Sincere? Is it engaging?
Tweak accordingly. Then, take it on the road!
|
