Imagine this scenario: You are at a SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, tired after walking around the convention center, and decide to take the elevator. You enter the elevator with a man wearing a nice, stylish suit and looking sharp. You look down at his badge that has six ribbons attached to it and see that he’s the director of Pfizer Inc., one of the world’s premier pharmaceutical companies. You and the director stand in silence facing the door of the elevator in anticipation for it to open on your desired floor, but… there are some technical issues and the door doesn’t open. This is your chance. A rare opportunity to face a person who has your dream job. Thankfully, you have your “elevator speech” nailed down and you can quickly summarize yourself in an attractive and brief manner. Once the elevator door opens, you shake hands, and he gives you his business card saying, “Nice meeting you. Please stay in touch! Here’s my business card.”
The chances of being stranded in an elevator with the director of Pfizer are quite small. However, it’s still important for scientists on any level to master an “elevator speech.” The world is producing more PhDs than ever before. Consequently, we only have a short timeslot to communicate our ideas during poster presentations and networking events to leave a good impression on our colleagues or potential hiring managers. Also, an excellent “elevator speech” can help you connect with the general public, giving more meaning and publicity to your research.
During the “Perfecting Your 'Elevator Speech'” Scientific Session during the 2018 Annual Meeting, experts and early career scientists provided useful tips and advice on how to make a good first impression by improving your cadence and body language and, of course, satirical examples of what NOT to do.
Marie Fortin, Alcami Corporation, opened the session by discussing body language and first impressions. Dr. Fortin suggested using the “2/3 and 1/3” rule, meaning that for 2/3 of the conversation, you maintain eye contact, and for 1/3 of the time, you focus on another part of the face like the nose or lips. She also mentioned the importance of a good hand grip, being aware of the tone of your voice, and always displaying a genuine smile.
The second speaker was Shaun McCullough, US Environmental Protection Agency, who dissected the anatomy of a good “elevator speech.” “Make sure that you properly introduce yourself by making eye contact, give your name, position, and where you are working, followed by a firm handshake,” said McCullough. An “elevator speech” can be thought of as a sales pitch, except instead of selling a product, you are selling yourself and your research idea. Dr. McCullough discussed the importance of “feeling” your audience. Whether it’s your colleague, childhood friend, co-worker, grandmother, be thoughtful and aware of your audience and tailor your “elevator speech” accordingly.
Claire Sadler, ApconiX, discussed things NOT to do during an “elevator speech.” “Don’t be too focused on yourself,” she said. If you want to talk to somebody important, first ask yourself simply, “Why do I want to talk to them?” and think about how they will feel about you talking to them. “If you wish to speak to someone at the SOT meeting who appears to be speaking to lots of people all the time, ask them, ‘Is now a good time to talk to you?’” Dr. Sadler advised. Always take into account the context of the situation for the person you’d like to talk to.
Both Dr. McCullough and Dr. Sadler emphasized the importance of practicing your “elevator speech.” “Always be prepared; make sure you have your talking points in line; always have a business card ready; be flexible; and pay attention to your audience,” Dr. McCullough shared.
Editor's Note: SOT Student member Hanumantha Rao Madala also attended this session and provided the following impressions.
This session received a great response in terms of the number of attendees, as well as the response during the session. The session was quite useful for everyone, and my expectations were totally met. Irrespective of the professional level one is in, the ability to perfect the elevator pitch is highly important. I observed people from various stages of their career attending this session and sharing their experiences.
This blog was prepared by an SOT Reporter. SOT Reporters are SOT members who volunteer to write about sessions and events they attend during the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. If you are interested in participating in the SOT Reporter program in the future, please email SOT Communications Director Michelle Werts.