Step 3
Share how you can help them, and do keep them involved.
Give your elevator speech here without the section on what you’re looking for from that person. Instead, finish your brief intro of who you are by saying something like,
“Given my background, know that if you ever need to talk about X, Y, or Z or need intros or info in these areas, it would be my pleasure to help you, if and when you need it. I know that you already have excellent resources/knowledge, but now you have one more, and more options/resources can be useful sometimes, right?”
Of course, you will need to know what your elevator speech is before this meeting, which means that you will need to know what you want to do next with this new relationship, which means that you will need to know where you want your career to progress to next.
SOCIAL CAPITAL and YOUR TIME are both scarce and precious resources—use them wisely and carefully as they are both finite with shelf lives. Therefore, have your next career goal carefully defined and your elevator speech appropriate to reach your next career goal. Why? Because:
Your next desired corporate position goal’s elevator speech and the people you will speak to are VERY DIFFERENT than who you’ll speak to and the words / concepts / expressions you’ll use if your next desired goal is a corporate board director role.
Different positions, different cultures, different industries, etc. have their own unique “languages” and your elevator speech needs to be appropriate/acceptable to the norms of your new weak link’s group, while still being authentically you…so do your research and practice beforehand your elevator speech with those who know those positions and norms. Doing so will ensure that you’ll engage with your new weak link fantastically.
Finally, finish up each meeting by keeping the person(s) involved—restate a summary of what you’ve discussed and ask for what they would like next steps to be and when. Be silent, listen, and respond with a “yes, I heard you and I can do that” attitude and then follow up/deliver/share accordingly.
Written by Kathy Graham - what are your thoughts?