What is an elevator speech?
Imagine if you had an elevator ride (for 30 seconds) to tell someone who you are and what you do.
You’d have to make it quick, concise, and to the point. This is called an elevator speech or elevator pitch.
Of course, this speech can take anywhere (and not just in an elevator).
Why do rec therapists need this?
Recreational Therapy is often misunderstood by those people outside of our profession.
Physicians and allied professionals often lack a clear understanding of what we recreational therapists are doing.
It is important for us, recreational therapists to advocate. We advocate for the services we provide and the patients/ clients who receive the benefits and outcomes from our services.
Elevator speech is great way for us to advocate our profession and the services we provide.
Who created a formula?
Carmine Gallo outlined a four step process for an elevator speech in his (2016) book, The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience.
Here are the four questions:
- What do you do?
- What problem do you solve?
- What distinguishes you from others?
- Why should people care?
Recreational therapists work in a variety of different settings, so their individual responses will differ.
Here is an example:
I’m a Recreational Therapist for children at a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility.
These children have suffered trauma and abuse. We help them get through their trauma.
Recreational therapy is different because we use a mix of games, sports, drama, music, expressive arts and crafts in the healing process.
Traumatic events can happen to anyone. It’s good to know that there are healers like Recreational Therapists who are helping people to not only survive, but to thrive.
Practice Activity:
Answer these four questions.
- What do you do?
- What problem do you solve?
- What distinguishes you from others?
- Why should people care?
You can post your response in the comments below.
Source:
Gallo, C. (2016). The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience. McGraw-Hill Education.