Some are cheesy. Some are crass. Some are crazy.
But very few are compelling and convincing.
Until now…! 
You know the type of scenario.
You have only seconds to make that important impression.
And because they invariably ask you in that seemingly polite but disengaged way – because there are so many other people they do it with and vice-versa – you quickly feel uncomfortable because of the way they ask you and their matching facial expression.
Suddenly, before you’ve replied, your subconscious mind is telling you that what you’re about to say about you and your job is functional at best and most probably rather boring.
And their subsequent lack of any follow-up questions confirms their seeming indifference and your self-imposed insecurity.
Damned by your own description!
This self-imposed pressure is understandable, especially when you consider that when someone asks you what you do you have just seconds to grab their attention and, ideally, also their admiration…especially as they hear so many colourless answers to this often cold question.
So, if this situation haunts you and is even hurting your personal and professional brand every time you’re asked, then try this 4-step formula for describing what you do in just ONE sentence:
“At the heart of what I do is to help A who struggle with B to achieve C.”
The 4-part formula comprises:
- “At the heart of…” gives your elevator pitch a more engaging sense of emotion so it has feeling rather than just being functional and factual.
- A is your ideal client.
- B is their biggest issue.
- C is their desired outcome or achievement)
So, for me, this would be something like:
“At the heart of what I do is to help young business professionals who struggle with their true confidence skills to communicate compellingly to achieve greater pay increases, promotions and business sales.”
But…it’s not just what you say. It’s the way you say it that’s also important.
Practise delivering this sentence into a mirror so you not only know how to adopt the right tone and cadence in your verbal delivery, but also how to adopt the right facial expression and vibe in your non-verbal delivery.
Why?
Because if you say something that sounds good but, facially, you look like you’re confessing to shoplifting, then it undermines your elevator pitch completely.
So, when you do utter your compellingly concise sentence, be positive, be punchy and then be profitable!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings about this topic, as well as any results you get from applying this technique. Please look me up on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Thanks and enjoy!
You can also post comments on this page and join in the discussion!
Guest blogger: Sean Brickell find out more at https://life-impact.biz/