The second elevator speech entry comes from Barb:
You need to see me as your best day on the stock market after your stock (h)as gone from knee level to head high, sell$!
My reaction to this one is that there’s not enough here to capture my attention thoroughly. There’s too little information. You presumably have something to do with the stock market, but what, exactly? If you’re a broker, just promising that a stock will go up – especially in this current market – isn’t enough. The promise sounds a little hollow, and what’s the added value that you bring?
I would suggest figuring out a more original approach, and one that’s more sensitive to current conditions. How can you help me in bear market, perhaps? What makes you different from all the other brokers out there?
This elevator pitch suffers from the “elephant in the room” problem. When there’s a huge issue in the arena that you’re talking about, you have to address it. In this case, with the market flat on its back, and everyone feeling the pain, you have to take that head on. And then tell us why your perspective or approach or expertise sets you apart.
It’s the principle President Obama used to good effect in his Inaugural Address. He began the speech by directly confronting the difficult economic times we find ourselves in:
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
That kind of direct honesty creates a sense of urgency and authenticity, and from that a relationship can begin. Barb, your elevator speech needs to do the same.
I am curious to the purpose of an elevator speech. For example, perhaps the board comes to me and says, “we need you to create an elevator speech, a statement that everyone(internal employees including board members) will know and will be able to articulate when called upon.” In this context, the elevator speech would be used to communicate important ideas like mission and core values.
The question I have is, are there more then a couple of different “elevator speeches” per organization?
For example, an elevator speech that is spoken about only internally when connecting tasks and objectives with the necessary vision and values of an organization. Or maybe another option, a speech that within the same organization invites the customer to “begin a relationship” with them and highlights a distinctive or benefit of what they have to offer. Are these two speeches synonymous in the core?
Maybe, I am using the term elevator speech wrongly, but I am trying to understand the purpose. Perhaps it’s purpose and whole changes from constituency to constituency within the same organizational structure. If this is the case, then I would really be interested in learning more about that.
I am curious to the purpose of an elevator speech. For example, perhaps the board comes to me and says, “we need you to create an elevator speech, a statement that everyone(internal employees including board members) will know and will be able to articulate when called upon.” In this context, the elevator speech would be used to communicate important ideas like mission and core values.
The question I have is, are there more then a couple of different “elevator speeches” per organization?
For example, an elevator speech that is spoken about only internally when connecting tasks and objectives with the necessary vision and values of an organization. Or maybe another option, a speech that within the same organization invites the customer to “begin a relationship” with them and highlights a distinctive or benefit of what they have to offer. Are these two speeches synonymous in the core?
Maybe, I am using the term elevator speech wrongly, but I am trying to understand the purpose. Perhaps it’s purpose and whole changes from constituency to constituency within the same organizational structure. If this is the case, then I would really be interested in learning more about that.