The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/4983
the quarterly magazine of ILTA 29 Peer to Peer For example, from the helpdesk scenario above, a different approach could be in outlining how your firm might be considering moving to an outsourced helpdesk to create increased response time and 24/7 support. In this case, you have taken a mundane or operational expectation and elevated it to a new level by introducing elements that might produce tangible benefit to your audience. TEST yOuR dELIVERy When we develop our individual 30-second elevator speeches, we practice them to ensure the delivery is polished and professional. Whether this is standing in front of a mirror or conveying your message to the family dog, the act of getting our message out allows for dynamic editing and tuning in advance of the real experience. For your IT department message, have your team develop and practice speeches collectively. The thought of creating and delivering speeches will likely take most staff out of their comfort zone, but taking a collaborative approach will yield greater creativity and consistency in message delivery. Once you have an arsenal of speeches prepared, try them out on family and friends along with your marketing and HR staff. Use their feedback to further customize your delivery. Do not let your speeches grow stale. Although you will invest considerable time in developing your speeches, keeping them fresh, current and relevant will be an ongoing requirement. Meeting with your team once per quarter will allow the group to gauge the success of their speeches and make necessary modifications. uSE ThE COLLECTIVE The development of a 30-second elevator speech for your IT group does not have to be an arduous task. Nor should it be an individual effort. This is an opportunity for the group to develop a communication plan that empowers each employee to act as a marketing representative for the IT group. As a collective, you have a suite of products and services that you can sell to your organization. Developing a dynamic 30-second speech is an opportunity to provide a compelling sense of purpose and value as to how your products and services are or will lead to the success of the business. Just like how an individual 30-second elevator speech can leave a prospective employer wanting to learn more about your capabilities, a well positioned IT department speech should leave your audience seeking your group's services and using the team as a business partner to further its success. ILTA SmART mOVES THE ElEVATOR SPEECH Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Justin Petkau Company . . . . . . . . . . . The Law Society of Alberta dO focus on your audience. Think of the message that you're giving as a compliment to your audience. This is something that he or she really does want to hear (even if he or she doesn't know it yet). dON'T distract yourself. If your cell phone rings, turn it off. If someone else blunders into your elevator speech, consider that person as an additional audience member. dO be friendly. Take a moment to put the person you're speaking with at ease. dON'T crowd into anyone else's personal space. You don't want to present your case too aggressively. dO smile. Giving your speech might feel tortuous at first. With a little rehearsal, you should feel comfortable with your words; and with more practice, you might even enjoy it. dON'T kvetch. This is not a time to say something along the lines of, "Well, we COULD be a better department if only the higher-ups would give us more pay, better equipment, extra time, etc."