Welcome!

Welcome to the first edition of my newsletter, Perfect Pitch - a bi-weekly blog to help renewables managers and directors whose first language is not English effectively communicate in all their meetings. I hope this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Keep reading to the end – I have a little surprise for you!

So what is this newsletter all about?

In each newsletter, I want to dive deep into what good communication really is and how you can get confident doing it. ?I’ll share useful tips, strategies and templates with you that you can use immediately in your pitches and presentations in your meetings with the Board of Directors, your international colleagues and your clients.

And the best bit? You will not need to go and learn a whole load of new words or even think about opening a grammar book. Sound good?

But the element that will make this newsletter the most valuable is YOU. I’d like to know what YOU would like to read about. What would help you most to communicate confidently in your meetings and present compellingly? Let me know below in the comments.

Why Perfect Pitch?

Every act of communication is really a pitch. We want someone to agree with us, learn something from us, engage with us and be impressed with us.

You update the Board of Directors with your monthly report? You’re pitching to them.

You sit with your colleagues and discuss the sales strategy for this year? You’re pitching your opinions and ideas to them and hope they will agree with you.

Communication is presenting your opinions, ideas and thoughts is such a compelling way that others will agree and go along with you.

As this is the first edition of this newsletter, ‘Introductions’, seems to be the most suitable topic to kick off with!

Who am I?

Maybe we’ve met, and maybe we haven’t. So let me tell you a little bit about me.

Here’s my introduction pitch!

I am a Communication Skills Coach, and I help directors and managers in the Renewables industry whose first language is not English make compelling pitches and communicate effectively in meetings to advance their careers and save the planet!

With my coaching technique, my clients focus only on their specific communication needs and goals, and on using the language they already know better, so saving them both time and money.

But enough about me.

Who are you?

One of the first tasks I set for my clients is to introduce themselves to me as if I was a potential client.?This is such an important ‘pitch’ to have ready to give at any moment, and it really should be perfect!

However, all too often people don’t get it right! They focus on telling me about their work experience, how many years they’ve been working in their current job, what skills they have, how many credentials they have, and somewhere towards the end there might be a bit about what the company does.

It’s all a bit boring and uninspiring. A real opportunity missed!

There is a well-known expression in English, and I’m sure you have a similar one in your language:

“You only get one chance to make a good impression.”

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Do you know it?

Make your first impression great! Leave the other person excited to work with you and eager to find out more.

Your first introduction should be fluent, clear, concise and interesting. It should excite YOU, and your voice should reflect that excitement.

It is sometimes called an elevator pitch, but I like to think of this little speech as your First Impression Pitch or Introduction Pitch.

And the most important thing? It’s not actually about YOU! It should be about the person you are talking to.

People are really not that interested in you, your experience or how many companies you’ve worked for. They don’t care about your credentials or how many diplomas you’ve got. Sorry, but it’s true.

They are really only interested in how you can help THEM. What can you do for them? How are you going to solve their problem? How are you going to work together with them?

So what should you say?

Here is a structure you can use to organise your perfect introduction pitch.

1. Who are you talking to?

A new client? A potential customer? A new colleague?

You’re intro will be slightly different according to who you are talking to.

2. Identify Your Goal

What is the objective of your pitch? Why are you talking to this person? This will direct the rest of your introduction.

3. Explain What You Do

Focus on the problems that you solve and how you help people. Do not focus on yourself here. Remember, people want to know how you can help THEM.

4. Communicate Your USP

Identify what makes you unique! How are you special from all the other people who do something similar to you?

5. Engage with a question

Depending on the context and your goal, you might want to keep the conversation going now, so ask an open question. A closed question means the answer will be short – ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. An open question makes the other person say more and so start a conversation!

6. Put it all together

Now put all your sentences together now and practice saying it out loud. Time your speech. If it is much longer than 30 seconds, it's too long

Do you remember my little introduction earlier? Let’s analyse it!

Who was I talking to?

You!

What was my objective?

To introduce myself and show you how I can help you.

What do I do?

I help directors and managers in the Renewables Industry whose first language is not English make compelling pitches and communicate effectively to advance their careers and save the planet!?

What is my USP?

With my coaching technique, my clients focus only on their specific communication needs, and on using the language they already know better, so saving them both time and money.

I could have asked you a question to engage you, but as you’re reading rather than listening to me, it wasn’t really appropriate. I’ll ask you one at the end!

?So, now it’s your turn. I want you to try this.

1. Get a pen and piece of paper.

2. Choose a specific person to introduce yourself to. Try to visualise them.

3. Write 2 introduction pitches – one about you and one about your company. They will be a bit different but have some similarities. Use the structure above.

If you want, send your introduction pitch to me! I’ll check it over for you and give you some feedback! I’d love to hear from you.

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And finally, I promised you a surprise.

Are you a classic movie fan? Did you notice the classic movie reference in this newsletter?

If you did, send me a DM (direct message) with the name of the film. Don’t write it in the comments because...

...I will choose 1 person from all the correct answers I get, and I will invite them for a ? 30-minute Problem Breakthrough Session - free.

On the call, I will help you solve 1 problem that you have with your English communication for work.

Perhaps you don't feel confident in meetings speaking English. Maybe you don't know where to start to improve your speaking. Maybe you're worried about your grammar. Whatever it is, we will discuss it and find a solution together.

No sales, no obligation, just advice!

But please do write in the comments about what you’d like to see in future editions of?Perfect Pitch. I will choose the best suggestions and invite you for a free Breakthrough Session too!

Until next time!

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