Over the last two years, some of the best professional contacts and clients I have secured have been at holiday parties. The holiday season brings all kinds of parties and festivities, which is why you should perfect your elevator pitch now. Holiday parties are a great way to meet people both socially and professionally because they often bring people together. While it’s not smart to attend a holiday party for the purpose of networking, meeting people who might be good professional contacts is why you should perfect your elevator pitch now.
Remember that you are a walking billboard
When you’re going to a holiday party or event, it’s crucial to remember that you are a walking billboard. Everything you do and every piece of information you put out there is part of your personal brand, and you want everything to reflect the same image and vibe. Brand yourself for success through your confidence, your clothing, your elevator pitch, and your ability to establish rapport with others. Never forget that you have the power to change how people see you. It’s really empowering when you realize that you control everything you put out there including how people see you and what perception you give off.
Think about how often we judge people almost immediately based on their appearance. Clothing is a tool which can help you take control of how people see you and manipulate their viewpoint. Do you want to appear as a strong, knowledgeable, and confident individual? Your clothing can help with that!
Think about how a brand is cohesive in every aspect of marketing and aesthetics. Decide how you want other people to see you and the brand you represent, and dress accordingly. If you want to be seen as a professional, wear professional clothing. It won’t only affect how people see you, but there’s something empowering about dressing “up.” It changes your demeanor and studies have shown that it influences the way we think.
Perfect your elevator pitch
Your elevator pitch is one of the most important parts of pitching yourself to others whether it’s at a holiday party, for a job, a writing opportunity, or to gain experience. You’re pitching yourself anytime you meet someone or try to further develop your career, so getting confident in your elevator pitch is essential. An elevator pitch is a short and persuasive speech that summarizes who you are, what you do, and why you’re unique. You should know it by heart and be able to say your elevator pitch at any time, from a casual conversation with friends to a job interview.
A great way to practice is to give your elevator pitch to a friend and ask them to give you feedback on three main aspects:
- What they learned
- What they wish they learned/what information you should include
- Where they think you could improve
This exercise will help you figure out where you are with your elevator pitch and how you can improve it to perfect this important part of your personal brand.
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The holidays are a time to embrace relationships, both old and new, and one of the best ways to meet new people is at holiday parties! Holiday parties serve as a great way to interact with people you might not otherwise have a chance to, which is why you should perfect your elevator pitch now. You never know who you’ll meet, so get working on that pitch and stash some business cards in your pocket!