The elevator speech is a great concept; a concise yet compelling description of your business that you’re ready to deliver whenever the opportunity presents itself.
For many, though, the elevator speech is little more than a commercial; a rapid-fire list of products or services, and the offering of a business card that will soon be at the bottom of a recycle bin.
But what if we rethink the elevator speech mentality? What if, instead of smothering a captive audience, we shared something that captivated them? What if instead of trying to say everything about our product, we shared something about our purpose? What if, instead of having to offer our card, we shared a message that moved people to ask for one?
Thanks to modern technology, it’s never been easier to be heard, and never been harder to be listened to. And nobody’s going to be interested in what you have to sell if they’re not interested in what you have to say. Stop trying to convince and start trying to connect. Get off the elevator, and step up to a message that engages listeners and moves them to the only response that matters, “Tell me more.”