Driving Force: The Importance of the Elevator Pitch

When you talk about your company, how is your elevator pitch? What? You don't have an elevator pitch or don't understand why you need one?

According to Wikipedia, an Elevator Pitch is described as a short description of an idea, product, or company that explains the concept in a way such that any listener can understand it in a short period of time. This description typically explains who the thing is for, what it does, why it is needed, and how it will get done. Finally, when explaining an individual person, the description generally explains one's skills and goals, and why they would be a productive and beneficial person to have on a team or within a company or project. An elevator pitch does not have to include all of these components, but it usually does at least explain what the idea, product, company, or person is and their value.

An elevator pitch can be used to entice an investor or executive in a company, or explain an idea to a founder's parents. The goal is simply to convey the overall concept or topic in an exciting way. Unlike a sales pitch, there may not be a clear buyer–seller relationship.

The name — elevator pitch — reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately 30 seconds to two minutes.

To help your recruitment efforts you need a good elevator pitch that helps not only describe what your company does but why someone would want to be a part of your organization.

The Driving Force team has created a helpful cheat sheet on Elevator Pitches and how to use them effectively in your recruitment practices. 

Missed last week's Driving Force Tips for Retaining and Retraining Your Furloughed Drivers for Spring? Click here to review.