Comments on: Is There Room For ‘We’ In Your Elevator? http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:24:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chris Bailey http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Chris Bailey Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:20:04 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/08/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/#comment-386 Brian, you've offered a great example. And you've hit on what I think is a central component of soulful work and the soulful business: helping others solve problems...it's not about solving them for them. In particular, I like how you've framed the dialogue around the phrase of "So what we did was (insert solution). It's not based on look how great <strong>I</strong> am, but look how great <strong>we</strong> can be. Brian, you’ve offered a great example. And you’ve hit on what I think is a central component of soulful work and the soulful business: helping others solve problems…it’s not about solving them for them. In particular, I like how you’ve framed the dialogue around the phrase of “So what we did was (insert solution). It’s not based on look how great I am, but look how great we can be.

]]> By: Brian Ward http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Brian Ward Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:42:22 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/08/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/#comment-385 Here's a rough draft of a potential elevator discussion or dialogue (note I did not say speech), focused on 'pain': When asked "What do you do?" Reply: "I help people, mostly (insert here the types of people you help, e.g. middle managers), get a good nights sleep by solving problems!" Possible Response: "What type of problems?" Reply: "Well, in one case, a manager I worked with actually was losing sleep, and as a result was drained of energy, because...(insert problem). So what we did was...(insert solution). Now she sleeps a whole lot better, and has a lot more energy! What keeps you awake at night?" You can of course also develop a dialogue that focuses on 'gain'. Here’s a rough draft of a potential elevator discussion or dialogue (note I did not say speech), focused on ‘pain’:
When asked “What do you do?”
Reply: “I help people, mostly (insert here the types of people you help, e.g. middle managers), get a good nights sleep by solving problems!”
Possible Response: “What type of problems?”
Reply: “Well, in one case, a manager I worked with actually was losing sleep, and as a result was drained of energy, because…(insert problem). So what we did was…(insert solution). Now she sleeps a whole lot better, and has a lot more energy! What keeps you awake at night?”

You can of course also develop a dialogue that focuses on ‘gain’.

]]> By: Brian Ward http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Brian Ward Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:24:17 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/08/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/#comment-384 I'm so glad to read that someone has at last tackled this issue. So many elevator speeches, and the likes (e.g. audio logos) come across as trite, manipulative and focused only on 'gaining the client.' And the point about servitude resonates with me: after all, it's really about service, not subservience. It's about partnering. So, start by ask a person what keeps them awake at night, and they will tell you. Give them some advice to help them get a better night's sleep, and most will thank you. After that, if they want to develop the relationship further, it is appropriate for you to explain what YOU want from the relationship, and to ask what they want, and see if you are on the same wavelength. If not, shake hands and wish them luck. It's about attracting to you, those people who are interested in developing a strong, beneficial-to-both-parties relationship. I’m so glad to read that someone has at last tackled this issue. So many elevator speeches, and the likes (e.g. audio logos) come across as trite, manipulative and focused only on ‘gaining the client.’ And the point about servitude resonates with me: after all, it’s really about service, not subservience. It’s about partnering.

So, start by ask a person what keeps them awake at night, and they will tell you. Give them some advice to help them get a better night’s sleep, and most will thank you. After that, if they want to develop the relationship further, it is appropriate for you to explain what YOU want from the relationship, and to ask what they want, and see if you are on the same wavelength. If not, shake hands and wish them luck. It’s about attracting to you, those people who are interested in developing a strong, beneficial-to-both-parties relationship.

]]> By: Chris Bailey http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Chris Bailey Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:08:46 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/08/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/#comment-383 Deb, you ask what would an effective elevator speech be from this approach? Ah...you caught me :) It's a great idea, but one that I hadn't really put into the frame of reality. And so, the challenge is on. Let's see what we can create. Deb, you ask what would an effective elevator speech be from this approach? Ah…you caught me :) It’s a great idea, but one that I hadn’t really put into the frame of reality. And so, the challenge is on. Let’s see what we can create.

]]> By: Legal Sanity http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Legal Sanity Sat, 11 Mar 2006 13:52:59 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/08/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/#comment-382 <strong>lawyering as soulful work...</strong> Since starting this blog almost two years ago, I’ve regularly read and pointed to the insightful posts at Chris Bailey’s The Alchemy of Soulful Work. Well, Chris has been hard at work revamping his site. It’s now called Bailey WorkPlay...... lawyering as soulful work…

Since starting this blog almost two years ago, I’ve regularly read and pointed to the insightful posts at Chris Bailey’s The Alchemy of Soulful Work. Well, Chris has been hard at work revamping his site. It’s now called Bailey WorkPlay……

]]> By: Deb Call http://www.baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/comment-page-1/#comment-381 Deb Call Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:39:30 +0000 http://baileyworkplay.com/2006/03/08/is-there-room-for-we-in-your-elevator/#comment-381 Intriguing idea, Chris. Would love to see an example of an elevator speech incorporating a more mutual approach, as you describe in this post. Perhaps you, or another blogger, could contribute a "for instance?" Thanks! Intriguing idea, Chris. Would love to see an example of an elevator speech incorporating a more mutual approach, as you describe in this post. Perhaps you, or another blogger, could contribute a “for instance?” Thanks!

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