ELEVATOR PITCH: SIX TIPS FOR MASTERING IT!
By Luana Schito
July 9th, 2020
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
An elevator pitch, also known as elevator speech, is a concise and straightforward statement often utilized to introduce ourself, our work, skills and goals, within the duration of an elevator ride: hence its name. Because of its succinctness, typically lasting between 30 seconds and one minute, an elevator pitch is a compelling tool to leave a lasting imprint of ourself. It can be used in a number of circumstances, wherein the interaction time with the individual(s) in front of you is limited, however essential to get the person to know who we are, thus (hopefully) leading to future collaborations and/or opportunities. In academia, the elevator pitch can be utilized to showcase your studies and/or research work, typically during conferences, receptions and meetings, or during a job interview.
Here there are a few tips that can help beginners (and experts alike) to master their own elevator pitch!
1: Crafting. First things first: Carefully crafting the content of your speech is crucial to steer the direction of your conversation into mutually fruitful areas.
2: Writing and Editing. Write down your statement, whilst ensuring that no relevant information has been left out. As a guideline, content might be organized into the following sections:
- A description of who you are
- A description of your expertise, skillset and goals
- A short, down-to-earth sentence to spark further interest
Once these steps are completed, it is essential to ask someone else to proof-read your speech in order to bring perspective.
3: Know your Speaking Rate. To assure that your pitch statement will fall well within the 30-second / one-minute time allotted, it is relevant to know your individual speaking rate, as calculated according to the following formula:
(opens in a new window)Speaking rate (words per minute or wpm) = total words / number of minutes
As outlined in this (opens in a new window)blog, you can count the number of words utilized in your statement either manually or through a (opens in a new window)“Speech to Text” software. Your speaking rate will give you an idea of how many words your statement should be made of.
4: Practice. This tip is one the most common ones, suggested by numerous experts advising on elevator pitch practices. There are many ways one can master an elevator pitch; however, the most common advice is: practice in front of the mirror, with family members, friends, and/or colleagues. The more you practice, the merrier! Remember to record your time and monitor your progress. This information will likely inform you on how much time and preparation will be required in order to master your elevator pitch.
5: Make sure your ‘pitch’ includes these features.
- Use of simple language
- Pragmaticism: What you propose must seem feasible
- Interesting: Relevance and perceived impact
- Memorable: Use ‘down to earth examples’
- Unique: Ask yourself whether your ideas have been heard elsewhere
- Avoid conceptual overload
6: Leave a mark, leave a card! When the ride is almost over it is important to finalize your pitch by providing business or personal cards containing contact information; if within academia, this information can be supported by a handout of your study / research work. These elements can facilitate future networking and collaborations.
Some food for thought
How would you craft your elevator pitch if you were riding the world’s (opens in a new window)fastest elevator installed at Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre?
According to Hitachi, Ltd., this elevator can connect the ground floor to the hotel lobby on the 95th floor in ≈42 seconds, over a distance of 440 meters, at a travelling speed of 1,260 meters per minute. Plenty of time to spare over the minimum required thirty seconds!
About the Author: Luana Schito, M.Sc., Ph.D., is an Ad Astra Assistant Professor of Pathology at University College Dublin School of Medicine, and the Co-Chair of UCD Women at STEM. Her longstanding research interest is to understand the role of hypoxia, or low oxygen, as an organizing molecular principle in the pathophysiology of human cancers, with the ultimate goal of forestalling their dissemination.
The content of this article solely represents the author’s views, and does not necessarily reflect those of University College Dublin (UCD) or UCD Women at STEM.