Have questions ?
We will call you back within an hour and you can voice your task in more detail.
Manage cookies
Cookie Settings
Cookies necessary for the correct operation of the site are always enabled.
Other cookies are configurable.
Other cookies are configurable.
Networking, soft skills, trust, business connections, first introductions
How to explain your value to people in 30 seconds so that it’s easy for them to recommend you further
A practical formula that makes your value clear and helps people easily recommend you further
What real value do I bring to people?
Surprisingly, most managers and specialists can’t clearly say how they are useful. They tell the company’s story, list services, show off credentials, say “we,” “our department” — but the other person still doesn’t understand what exactly you solve.
And yet 30 seconds is usually all you have: in a chat, at a meeting, at a conference, or on a first call.
And yet 30 seconds is usually all you have: in a chat, at a meeting, at a conference, or on a first call.
How to use the Help Formula
I talk about… HELP.
If you put it into a formula, here is a working formula that always helps:
“I help [whom] do [what] so that they can [what result].”
If you put it into a formula, here is a working formula that always helps:
“I help [whom] do [what] so that they can [what result].”
Specifics are the main requirement.
To make it clear how this sounds in real life, here are a few examples:
What should I do?
Where do I start if I want to learn how to ask for help PROPERLY?
Example 1. Sales consultant: focus on revenue, not on the department
Not: “I work on developing sales departments.”
But: “I help B2B companies shorten the sales cycle and increase revenue without expanding their headcount.”
But: “I help B2B companies shorten the sales cycle and increase revenue without expanding their headcount.”
Example 2. Product manager: results in money and timelines
Not: “I’m a product manager with experience in fintech.”
But: “I bring complex products to market in a way that they start generating profit within the first 6–9 months.”
But: “I bring complex products to market in a way that they start generating profit within the first 6–9 months.”
Example 3. Marketer: phrasing through lead cost
Not: “We do social media promotion.”
But: “We bring companies customers from social media at a cost at least 20% lower than their current one.”
But: “We bring companies customers from social media at a cost at least 20% lower than their current one.”
Example 4. HR / People Partner: value through engagement and turnover
Not: “I work with corporate culture.”
But: “I help companies reduce turnover and increase team engagement through simple management practices.”
But: “I help companies reduce turnover and increase team engagement through simple management practices.”
Example 5. IT architect: architecture that can handle growth
Not: “I design systems.”
But: “I help companies build architectures so that their projects don’t crash when they scale.”
But: “I help companies build architectures so that their projects don’t crash when they scale.”
Find your own 30-second formula and ask your colleagues to check how they would retell it to others.
One important point:
Your explanation should be phrased so that a person can easily retell it to someone else.
When you describe what you do in concrete terms, you get back what networking is meant to bring — people start recommending you further.
Try to find your own 30‑second formula.
I help… [whom]?
Your explanation should be phrased so that a person can easily retell it to someone else.
When you describe what you do in concrete terms, you get back what networking is meant to bring — people start recommending you further.
Try to find your own 30‑second formula.
I help… [whom]?
Leonid Bugaev
is an expert in business communications, a corporate trainer, speaker, and conference moderator. He is the author of the books “Mobile Marketing”, “Mobile Networking” and "People Like Me: 99 Rules for Building Connections That Actually Matter."
Follow Leonid on Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube so you don’t miss new publications. Also take a look at his business training programs on networking, B2B sales and trendwatching, as well as his books and interviews.
Follow Leonid on Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube so you don’t miss new publications. Also take a look at his business training programs on networking, B2B sales and trendwatching, as well as his books and interviews.