What Is an Elevator Speech?

Tom Henschel: The Look & Sound of Leadership Tom Henschel of Essential Communications grooms senior leaders and executive teams. An internationally recognized expert in the field of workplace communications and self-presentation, he has helped thousands of leaders achieve excellence through his work as an executive coach and his top-rated podcast, The Look & Sound of Leadership. Key Points An elevator speech is a crisp, concise, high-level summary of a complex, multi-layered topic. It can be about whatever you do as a profession, but it can also be about anything else, like your recent vacation. Elevator speeches get crafted … it doesn’t happen in the spur of the moment. Creating an elevator speech doesn’t take long, but you have to choose to reflect. An elevator speech is actually a conversation tailored to the other person. Say a little bit, and then test the other person’s level of interest. The longer you talk, the less effective you are. The Three Qualities of a Great Elevator Speech Keep it short Be memorable Tailor it to the listener Resources Mentioned Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office* by Lois P. Frankel Related Episodes Enhance Your Executive Presence, with Tom Henschel (episode 272) How to Grow Your Professional Network, with Tom Henschel (episode 279) Tom Henschel Interviews Dave (episode 300) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.