The elevator pitch: how to sell yourself in 60 seconds

If you only had 60 seconds to win someone over, how would you do it? Enter the “elevator pitch”: a quickfire 20-60 second overview of your product, service, project, or solution that gets its name from the average time of an elevator ride.

A well-polished elevator pitch is a powerful tool to have in your business communication toolkit, and is an essential entrepreneurial skill. You never know when you might find yourself in a situation with a person of influence where a few well-timed words could get you the break you’ve been looking for.

The sole objective of an elevator pitch isn’t to close a deal, but to convince someone that you have something worthwhile to offer. It can be used in planned occasions such as interviews—especially when answering the “Tell me about yourself” question, or even when asking for a mentor, but where this elevator speech becomes most useful is when you encounter unexpected opportunities.

If you’re wondering how to improve your business communication skills and leave a lasting impression, take a look at these tips and tricks for a floor-by-floor process to crafting the ultimate 1-minute elevator pitch.