“Minute to Win It”: Using Elevator Speeches to Advocate in Educational Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Elevator speeches, or brief talks in which individuals pitch an idea, sell a solution to a problem, or raise awareness of an issue, have gained increasing popularity within the business world. While school-based professionals may not view themselves as having to “sell,” audiologists and speech-language pathologists are in the business of “selling” our ability to create change for students with communication disorders. Elevator speeches serve as a viable advocacy tool and can be used influence decision-makers and bring about meaningful change in our professions. This article equips readers with knowledge of how to craft a winning elevator speech, provides examples of instances in which school-based professionals could use elevator speeches, and presents information on how to assess the success of elevator speeches.