The idea of giving someone a 2-minute elevator pitch is to help them describe what they do in a memorable and impactful way.
A strength coach might want her prospective clients to achieve their physical goals by becoming stronger.
But stronger than what?
Now
The opposition
Her peer group
Than ever before
And what if your prospective client feels strong enough already?
So how do you get the right information across?
Write your elevator pitch on a blog, your website, or a CV and it’s passive. People can choose whether or not to engage with your content. And what it means to them.
Deliver your elevator pitch as intended and it is on you to inspire and engage the audience. An audience that has just found itself in a confined space with little prospect of getting out. Much like a teacher.
But there is another way.
In my mind, a youth sports coach is someone who holds a space open for kids to explore movement, skills, and relationships with their peer group.
Ask a kid what they want to achieve and it might change the next time you ask them
Ask a kid how they will measure their success and most will have no answer.
Open allows for experiences to inform and for kids to change their minds without judgment.
The task of an elevator pitch is to get clear on what you do and how it works.
But perhaps the real skill is in helping your audience figure out what it means to them.