Polish Your Pitch Series – Part II: 6 Ways to Make an Impact with Everyone You Meet

I’m back with part two of our Polish Your Pitch Series. I have the remaining 3 tips that are necessary to create an elevator pitch that will stand out from the rest. Have you read and practiced the first 3 recommended points in the first part of our series? The following 3 below are just as important and will round off the few tips that you need to make the impact that you’re looking for.

Practice does make perfect.

Practice, practice, practice! In 2016, a study on the long term effects of learning was done by York University’s Faculty of Health. It showed initial learning and performance at seven weeks led to increase in activation in cortical regions during visualization of the focused activity. Simply said, the more you practice, the more you become confident with your pitch material over time. Practicing will also calm your nerves. You will feel prepared and assured of yourself when an opportunity will arise.

Remember it’s not a race, it’s all about being authentic. Be concise. Start with practicing your pitch within a 60 second timeframe. Once you are comfortable with hitting your key points, you should reach a comfortable medium where your pitch can be recited within 30 seconds or less . Now that you have all the pieces of your elevator pitch together, let your confidence lead the way!

Capture your audience.

Steer clear of being robotic or monotone and don’t forget that you’re interacting with someone! You want to be as clear about your message as possible. Don’t fidget and be jumpy with constant movement. Remember your audience and be attentive to the individual you are interacting with. Ideally, you don’t want someone to have to ask if you can repeat yourself. Having the individual lose interest in your elevator pitch is the total opposite of what you’re looking to gain. Be as engaging as possible, look them in the eye, and be clear and concise with your delivery.

Own it.

This is your moment and you will not get a second chance. Your elevator pitch can be fantastic, but without you applying yourself to it, you can run the risk of it falling flat. Increase the chances of your pitch statement being successful by owning it. Use eye contact, good posture, smiling, and not rushing into the introduction as ways to be as engaging as possible. Yet at the same time, don’t prolong or ramble on. Remember, this is a personal presentation!

By applying the above tips, your elevator pitch will become a good authentic conversation that will hold the key to growth for your career and life ambitions for years to come.