Elevator Pitch & A Firm Handshake
This article was written by Derby Ozioma Chukwudi, part of Students of LinkedIn’s Article Team.
It is recruiting season and a lot of conferences and leadership programs kick off from this month throughout the year. The goal of this article is to explore two key areas that determine your ability to connect with professionals, industry leaders, and fellow students you may come across during these programs.
In your tool kit for prepping for conferences and programs, you need to include an ELEVATOR PITCH and a FIRM HANDSHAKE.
ELEVATOR PITCH
Your elevator pitch can make or break an opportunity for you to connect with people. Imagine anticipating your meeting with a professional, and all of a sudden that eagerness dies down because you did not give your best shot with your pitch. Your elevator pitch should last for about 30 seconds ~ think of how long it takes an elevator to get to the next floor. The main point is to introduce yourself, share your unique experience/competitive advantage, and share your value proposition or an idea you are interested to learn more about.
Key Tips to Consider when crafting your elevator pitch:
- Keep it brief
- Include the important information
- Be firm in speech and showcase confidence
- Be personable
- Keep it flexible
It takes practice and preparation to have a solid elevator pitch, but you also need to remember that depending on who you are speaking to, your pitch changes a little bit. With much practice, you will have the information you need so that you can easily freestyle how your pitch goes because you do not want to sound robotic.
After including your elevator pitch in your toolkit, you need to know how to give a firm handshake.
FIRM HANDSHAKE
Do not underestimate the power of a firm handshake. Giving a handshake is an opportunity for you to express confidence, trust, connection, and respect.
According to a study carried out by Beckman Institute Researcher, Florin Dolcos, and Department of Psychology Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sanda Dolcos, “a handshake preceding social interaction enhanced the positive impact of approach and diminished the negative impact of avoidance behavior on the evaluation of social interaction.”
When you meet new people, as you introduce yourself, you want to give a firm handshake. You neither want your handshake to be a forceful grip nor a limp noodle ~ You want it firm!
Six tips on giving a firm handshake
- Approach the individual with enthusiasm and a smile
- Use one hand
- Stretch out your hand with your elbow veering toward a right angle
- Be firm but not forceful
- Make and maintain eye contact
- The handshake should last for 3–4 seconds to avoid awkwardness
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