Elevator speeches have given me the ick from day one.
First of all, they add insane amounts of anxiety to the question: “what do you do for a living”?
Second, it doesn’t matter whether you’re giving an elevator speech or sitting through one, they’re fucking uncomfortable. That’s coming from a girl that LOVES the stage and public speaking and memorizing content.
There’s just so much about elevator speeches and their self-centered nature that feels so forced and fake.
I don’t know about you, but the whole idea of having to spend a couple of hours exchanging fake speeches with a bunch of strangers sounds as fun as a bikini wax with sunburn. But at the same time, I know that you can find your biggest buyers and referral partners via networking events so a girl’s gotta adapt.
Enter the super simple strategy I’m about to share that will have you eagerly looking for networking events in your area in just a few minutes.
How To Write Your Anti-Elevator Speech Step-By-Step
- Start with a Real Question
Instead of: “Hi, I’m [Your Name], and I help female business owners scale their services into products.”
Try: “Hey, I’m [Your Name]. What’s been the most exciting part of your work lately?”
- Actually Listen
Instead of: Jumping into your pitch.
Try: Listening to what they say and showing you care. Ask follow-up questions like, “That sounds awesome! How did you get started with that?”
- Find Common Ground
Instead of: Focusing on your own services.
Try: Relating to their experiences. “I’ve seen that kind of challenge before. What’s worked for you so far?”
- Offer Help, Not a Sale
Instead of: Going for the hard sell.
Try: Sharing something useful. “I just read something that might help with what you mentioned. Want me to send it your way?”
- Keep the Door Open
Instead of: Pushing for an immediate deal.
Try: Suggesting future meet-ups. “It’s been great chatting! Want to grab coffee sometime and continue this conversation?”
Networking doesn’t have to be about pitching yourself. In fact, it shouldn’t be about pitching so much as meeting people and creating opportunities for yourself.
Also, to be honest, when I seek out referral partners more than clients I usually find some of my biggest buyers. There is something about finding common ground over clients and helping them with their clients that makes them want to hire you themselves.
Make it about the other person and having a real conversation. The anti-elevator speech isn’t just about avoiding awkwardness—it’s about creating connections that actually matter.
So swap the fake speech for genuine questions. That’s it. That is the super simple strategy.
To be sure we are crystal clear on the questions you need to bring with you I will break them down below. Bookmark and save this post for yourself so you can whip it out as a refresher before you walk into networking events.
Sample Script for an Anti-Elevator Speech
- Opening Question: “Hey, I’m [Your Name]. What’s been the most exciting part of your work lately?”
- Listening and Engaging: “That sounds really cool! How did you get into that?”
- Finding Common Ground: “I’ve seen that kind of thing too. What’s been working for you?”
- Offering Help: “I have some stuff that might help with what you mentioned. Want me to send it to you?”
- Future Meet-Ups: “It’s been great chatting! How about we grab coffee sometime and continue this conversation?”
Let’s make networking fun and meaningful. It’s all about connecting with people, not reciting a script. So go out there and be your awesome, curious self!