By Beth Kotz
The world moves quickly and you may have less than 60 seconds to make an impression that lasts. Enter the elevator pitch, so named to reflect the short period of time it takes to travel between floors. It’s a short and impactful summary that you can use to communicate the most important details about your Rotary club or project and capture the attention of a potential member, supporter, or partner. To ensure you’re making the most of every opportunity, check out these six tips from Toastmasters to create and deliver a perfect powerful pitch.
1. Present your club as an opportunity.
An elevator pitch is not intended as an advertisement, nor is it a call for help. Instead, hook your target by framing your pitch as an opportunity. If you’d like someone to engage with you and your club, treat them as a potential partner and offer a compelling case that working together can be mutually beneficial.
2. Keep it simple.
Perhaps more than anything else, the key to a great elevator pitch is ruthless efficiency. Don’t get bogged down with extraneous details and technical jargon. Carefully consider every word that you add to your pitch and ensure that it serves a direct purpose. Remember that the end goal is to quickly communicate your vision in less than one minute and inspire a desire to find out more. If they seem interested in your pitch, ask if they would like a “What’s Rotary” wallet card to learn more about Rotary and connect with you later.
3. Remember your enthusiasm.
Your words are essential, but they only represent a small portion of your pitch. A beautifully worded pitch delivered without joy is bound to land with a thud, but kindling enthusiasm and anticipation is a surefire way to keep your message lodged in the front of a potential supporter’s mind. Use your pitch as a chance to share your passion. Practice delivering it in a way that conveys your excitement and conviction.
4. Cut the keywords.
The business world is rife with banal buzzwords and overused “execuspeak.” Scrap these canned clichés and set yourself apart by crafting a wholly original speech that highlights what makes you and your club unique. To ensure that your speech flows naturally and doesn’t sound like a soulless infomercial, have someone read it aloud to you and keep an ear out for any words or phrases that sound overly trite or formal.
5. Build the hype.
Assuming you’ve managed to hook your listeners effectively, the next step is to demonstrate legitimacy and build some real excitement. Work details about other outstanding accomplishments that speak to your club’s bona fides into your brief message. If you’re pitching a project, inform your listeners that you’ve identified a monetary target and you’re working to secure the funding you need. If it’s relevant, you may also wish to work in a mention of your follower count on social media.
6. Find common ground.
After you’ve done the dirty work of making your pitch, be sure to close with some conversation. Remember that the goal of an effective pitch is to create a connection, and the quickest way to do that is to find common ground with your audience upon which to begin building a relationship. Let others talk and take a genuine interest in what they have to say, paying particular attention to shared interests and aspirations. Follow up by asking insightful questions, and remember — you can never go amiss with a few kind words!
Summarizing your Rotary experience and capturing the interest of your audience in the span of 30 to 60 seconds is no small task, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated affair. Armed with the tips above, and some confidence, you can craft a perfect pitch that’s sure to drum up interest and leave an impression on your listeners.
This column is adapted from an article in the August 2021 issue of Toastmaster magazine and reappeared in the August 2024 issue of Rotary magazine. Rotary and Toastmasters International are working together to provide members of both organizations opportunities for personal and professional growth. Learn more at rotary.org/toastmasters.
https://blog.rotary.org/2024/07/30/6-tips-to-elevate-your-elevator-pitch/