The ULTIMATE Elevator Speech Test

by Fred Miller

If you attend virtual or in-person networking events, social functions, or seminars, one question you are usually asked is, “Who are you and what do you do? Give us your Elevator Speech.”

This question is important, and you always want to have a great response.
My question to you is, “How do you know if your Elevator Speech is an exceptional one?”

Here is the ULTIMATE Elevator Speech Test:
-Ask someone what you do!
-Don’t ask someone who has heard you deliver your Elevator Speech.
-Ask someone who hasn’t heard you to ask someone who has.

If you’ve developed an exceptional Elevator Speech, then anyone who has heard you deliver your speech will be able to tell anyone and everyone about you. In turn, their listeners will be able to do the same.

If someone cannot tell others what you do, why would they ever want to hire or refer you? That’s why a great Elevator Speech needs to be Clear, Concise, and Consistent.

BAD Example: Bob
If I answer the question, “What does Bob do?” by answering, “Bob is an engineer,” what does that tell you? It actually brings up more questions. The first one is, “What kind of engineer?”
Mechanical? Chemical? Electrical? Choo Choo?

GOOD Example: Fred
“Fred speaks, coaches, and writes about networking, public speaking, and presentation skills.”
That example is:
-Clear – plain and simple language
-Concise – 12 words
-Consistent – I’ve used it many times when answering the question one-on-one or delivering my Elevator Speech to small and large groups.

The next time you deliver your Elevator Speech, put it to the ULTIMATE Test. Ask the following question to someone who has not heard you deliver your speech to ask someone who has: “What does do?”

Follow these suggestions for developing, practicing, and delivering your Elevator Speech, and I guarantee the result will be absolutely, positively – NO SWEAT!

Fred Miller (fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com) is a Speaker, International Coach and Author. Businesses and individuals hire him to improve their public speaking and presentaiton skills.