Merel Segers
Merel Segers is an independent professional in Sustainability Analysis & Communication. She is based in the Netherlands.
If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
What do you do?
What is a pitch?
Short
Purpose
Understandable
Why so short?
If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Example pitch
"What do you do?"
Pitch template
What is your goal?
Begin with the end in mind
Stephen Covey
Main goal: ...
- Sub goal 1: ...
- Sub goal 2: ...
Potential goals
- Convince
- Inspire
- Call to action
Convince
You want your listeners to change their opinions or to develop the same opinion you have.
Inspire
Your goal is to excite your listeners about your topic of reinforce their existing ideas or beliefs, not necessarily to alter their opinions or beliefs.
Call them to action
You want listeners to do something after hearing your pitch.
Such as:
- Share interesting contacts
- Give feedback on your idea
- Answer a question
- Make you part of their team
Make it concrete!
2 offers for research groups to join.
Message
Let me know if you want me to join your team
Excercise
3 minutes: Write down your goal, sub goals and message
5 minutes: Discuss with your neighbour
Who is listening?
You are not presenting for yourself
Psychographic
Personality, values, opinions, attitudes, interests, dreams, and lifestyles
Demographic
Age, gender, income,
education level
Problem
No time, no knowledge about a certain topic, overview lost
Persona: Anna
Woman
No time
36
Loves nature
I have to do something
with sustainability,
but what & how?
Manager at IKEA
Ambitious
Be careful with difficult words
Excercise
2 minutes: Write down characteristics of your intended audience.
Demographic: Age
Psychographic: Dreams
Problem: ...
3 minutes: Discuss with your neighbour
How to structure your pitch?
Simon Sinek
Motivation
Process
Product
Why
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Howard Thurman
In order to make the world sustainable, people should know how to act sustainably
! Don't forget to check in !
Excercise
3 minutes: Discuss with your neighbour:
Why do you do what you do?
Neighbour is only allowed to ask why.
After 3 minutes switch roles.
Recap: You are studying ... because ...
How
My role is twofold. Firstly I help organisations to become more sustainable, secondly I communicate sustainability topics.
How
How are you going to make a difference regarding the WHY you just discussed?
2 minutes to write down your how.
3 minutes to discuss with your neighbour
What
I calculate CO2 emissions and write articles
What
What is your final product?
2 minutes to write down your what.
3 minutes to discuss with your neighbour
Message
Give me a call
Excercise
10 minutes: Prepare a pitch of max. 60 seconds
3 volunteers give their pitch in front of the group
The group evaluates if they achieved their goal
Feedback
Practice, practice, practice!
Some tips
Tape yourself
Time yourself
Ask friends to listen and give feedback
Recap
Pitching is a useful skill
Make sure you have a clear goal
Make sure you know your intended audience
Structure your pitch
Practice, practice, practice
Want to learn more?
Develop sticky messages:
Made to stick: Chip & Dan Heath
Practice presenting:
Toastmasters
TU Delft course & book:
Presentation techniques: Manon & Bob van der Laaken
info@merelsegers.nl
www.merelsegers.nl
Workshop pitchen
By Merel Segers
Workshop pitchen
Workshop for Leiden University, Minor Sustainable Development
