Two weeks ago, I wrote about my preparations for our October monthly Members meeting and my plan for a contest to recognize the best elevator pitch. My objective was two-fold; to support our main speaker and put a spotlight on one of my pet peeves. I wanted to ensure that it was fun, interesting, and productive for our members. If they fail to see value in the meeting, attendance will suffer, and our Mission will be compromised. I was also interested in providing an effective introduction to support our speaker, Leslie Kuban, whose presentation was about selling to entrepreneurs.
I am pleased to report that the meeting was a great success! The contest for the best elevator pitch was well received and executed. Creating score sheets and ballots prior to the meeting saved time and improved the outcome of the contest.
The winner of the contest was Leslie Kuban, the guest speaker. The attendees noted that her pitch was focused and interesting. The discussion that followed was energetic, as the room was completely focused on the issue. They understood the value of her message. Winning the contest gave Leslie instant credibility in advance of her presentation.
At least one member suggested that every meeting should include a contest for the best elevator pitch. That is something to consider. I am pleased that I’m getting through to the folks, but I don’t know that a contest every meeting would have the desired effect. Possibly once a quarter would be a better compromise.
Leslie was energized when she began her presentation. Later that afternoon she called me to debrief. I told her I thought she had done an excellent job. The presentation was well received, and the meeting was one of our best. She was pleased with my assessment and volunteered to participate further with our BENG Chapter. Also, she indicated an interest in an affiliation with ITB Partners. A twofer!
In the days following our meeting, I received an email from a member who was unable to attend the meeting. She is interested in crafting an effective elevator pitch, sending me a draft for my review and feedback. Frankly, she made an excellent start. The following day I provided her with my thoughts and suggested that we schedule a face-to-face meeting to work on a final product. We agreed to meet for coffee on Halloween.
In my earlier post, I discussed the difference between a positioning statement for a resume, and for an elevator pitch. The positioning statement on a resume, or a business plan, should be written in jargon relevant to the reader. However, jargon for a target audience, may not be relevant for one-on-one personal discourse, especially for someone unfamiliar with your line of work. An elevator pitch must be easily understood by anyone.
An effective elevator pitch goes together with networking activities. It helps recruit evangelists for one’s business, capturing their imagination so that they will spread the word. As I mentioned in the prior post, a good elevator pitch is memorable, believable, and interesting. It must make a lasting impression, which means it must make an emotional connection. It is a conversation starter, not the result.
As I consider adding value to our meetings, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the subject matter and the type of presentation that will be best received. In pursuit of this goal, I’ve been spending a lot of time on YouTube, listening to speakers talk about the value of storytelling for more effective presentations. This seems to be the preferred style, for brand building, as well as speeches and business presentations. I like the concept, as stories tend to be more effective especially when they make an emotional connection with the audience.
In December I have a speaker scheduled for the Atlanta Chapter of BENG about developing more effective speeches. I am confident that we are on the same wavelength with respect to story-telling, but I plan to have a conversation with him to ensure that we are in sync.
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Jim Weber, Managing Partner
ITB PARTNERS