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The First Minute: How to Start Conversations That Get Results (Business Communication Skills Books) Paperback – November 13, 2020

by Chris Fenning (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 747 ratings
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Get people's attention and get your message across at work. Learn the simplest way to improve your business communication skills today. There is no fluff and no vague advice, just practical step-by-step methods you can start using today.

This multi-award-winning book teaches specific methods for having short, clear business conversations, emails, meetings, interviews, and more. Check out the reviews to hear from the real people this book has helped.

Communication should be clear and concise, and we should get to the point quickly. The problem is we don’t always know how to do this. What does it mean to be concise? How can a complex topic be summarized in just a few lines?

This award-winning book is a step-by-step guide for clear, concise communication in everyday work conversations. Being concise is not about trying to condense all the information into sixty seconds. It is about having clear intent, talking about one topic at a time, and focusing on solutions instead of dwelling on problems.

Throughout this book you’ll discover how to:
· Have shorter, better work conversations and meetings
· Get to the point faster without rambling or going off on tangents
· Lead your audience toward the solution you need
· Apply one technique to almost every discussion, email, presentation and interview with great results

This book is a result of more than 20,000 conversations in both business and technical jobs. Chris Fenning has trained individuals and teams around the world in these techniques. He has worked with organizations from start-ups to Fortune 50 and FTSE 100 companies. These methods work for them all.

Having clearer communication is easier than you might expect, and it all starts with the first minute.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Business Communication Skills Books
  2. Print length
    126 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 13, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.29 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    183824400X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1838244002
  8. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. Framing should take no more than three sentences and be delivered in less than fifteen seconds.
    Highlighted by 990 Kindle readers
  2. The longer it takes to state the purpose of your message, the greater the chance your audience will form their opinion of your intent.
    Highlighted by 780 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

A copy of The First Minute standing on a white table with grey shadow behind

Improve your communication skills in just 120 pages

Improve your workplace communication skills with this short, practical book. Join more than 50,000 people around the world and benefit from Chris Fenning's practical communication advice that cuts through the fluff and helps you get straight to the point. Learn how to:

  • Get to the point
  • Summarise anything
  • Be clear and concise

A copy of The First Minute standing on a white table with grey shadow behind

A copy of The First Minute on a table with notepad and coffee helping the reader write better

A man holding a practical communication skills book in print or digital formats

More than 50,000 copies sold!

When you buy this book you'll become one of more than 50,000 people who've improved the clarity of their communication at work. People in more than 100 countries have learned from Chris's methods and are enjoying clearer communication every day.

One of the methods you'll learn is how to create clear and concise summaries with the GPS method

Goal is the first part of a structured summary

Problem is the second part of a structured summary

Solution is the third part of a structured summary

Goal

Clear summaries start by stating the goal. What are you trying to achieve?

This could be something big like a company wide project. Or something small like trying to complete a task by the end of the day.

Whatever it is, start by telling your audience what the goal is so they understand where you are trying to go.

Problem

After stating the goal, say what the problem is. This is the thing that's stopping you achieving the goal. It's also the thing you need the other person to know about so you can talk about the solution. Without a clearly defined problem, the solution won't make as much sense.

Don't explain why the problem exists, and don't go into detail about the problem. Give a short statement naming the problem and then move on to talk about the solution.

Solution

Having made the goal and problem clear the person you're speaking to will understand why they should pay attention to what you say next.

The solution is usually the part of your message you want to talk about the most. It's the decision you need them to make, the approach you are planning, or the idea you want to share.

great communication skills book available in digital and print versions

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In today's complex work-world, everyone needs a dose of Chris Fenning's methods to become more effective communicators." - Laura Camacho, Forbes coaches council


"The awareness this book brought me is worth its weight in gold. Furthermore, the tools and formula it describes are simple and achievable." - CEO Lacuna Coaching


"This is a book that everybody needs."- Editorial team, Friesen Press





About the Author

CHRIS FENNING is the author of "The First Minute", a book about clear & concise communication at work. Chris Fenning is a communications advisor on a mission to improve alignment between business and IT teams. He has helped individuals and teams around the world in organizations from start-ups to Fortune 50 and FTSE 100 companies. He has lived in the UK, USA and now lives in the Netherlands with his wife and daughter. You can find out more about Chris at www.chrisfenning.com

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alignment Group Ltd (November 13, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 126 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 183824400X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1838244002
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.29 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 747 ratings

About the author

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Chris Fenning

Chris Fenning

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CHRIS FENNING is the author of multiple books including the multi-award-winning "The First Minute", a book about clear & concise communication at work. Chris Fenning is a communications advisor on a mission to improve alignment between business and IT teams. He has helped individuals and teams around the world in organizations from start-ups to Fortune 50 and FTSE 100 companies. He has lived in the UK, USA and now lives in the Netherlands with his wife and daughter. You can find out more about Chris at www.chrisfenning.com

** AWARDS **

Winner: Best Book Award winner (AmericanBookFest) (2021)

Bronze Medal: 2021 Axiom Business Book for business communication (2021)

Bronze Medal: The Feathered Quill Bronze award for best Informational Business book (2021)

Finalist: International Book Awards (2021)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
747 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Maciej
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is for everyone to read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
It gives you a framework to get straight to a point.
It’s not easy skill and it needs to be trained, but it supplements a lot the well known Smart Brevity way of communication.

You don’t want to waste people’s time.

We live in a world overloaded with data. We are bombarded with new information every minute.

It’s important to be clear and concise otherwise we loose other’s attention. This book gives you a framework that helps you work on the skill that is one of the top to master nowadays.
5 people found this helpful
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Giselle
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, Succinct, Achievable
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
I’m a communicator. I want to make sure people not just receive the message but my intent behind it. By nature, I over explain, take you along my journey with me, so you can experience every bump and turn and get to see things from my perspective as closely as possible. I do this all before getting to the point. And before reading this book, I. Had. No. Idea.
Sure, my communication style is a gift in some scenarios, but in many, especially in the workplace, it can be debilitating to progress.
The awareness this book brought me is worth its weight in gold. Furthermore, the tools and formula it describes are simple and achievable.
I completely started an email over today when I realized that my intention was to ask for feedback and not just inform. Really powerful stuff in a succinct and easily rememberable formula.
39 people found this helpful
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Brave Joe
3.0 out of 5 stars This is really about e-mail conversations
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
I mistakenly presumed that this book would help with PERSON to PERSON conversations. It is really focused on e-mail communication. That it does well, with a simple 3 step process to clearer email communication. This same method CAN be used when talking directly to a person, but in that respect, it is really formulaic, and would come off stilted. I was looking for a book that helped me with walking up to someone and starting a conversation. I will have to look elsewhere for such a book.
50 people found this helpful
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Wendy.B1
5.0 out of 5 stars Shorten your meetings with Context framework
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great and simple
way to shorten the ever needed meetings with framework with goals being achieved without reviewing what did work!
One person found this helpful
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Bruce_in_LA
5.0 out of 5 stars On my top ten list this year
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a typical excellent business book, it covers material that is not exactly unfamiliar, that brings the material to life and makes it fresh in your mind and provides you some ideas and tools that you can apply immediately in your own work. I do a best books list at the end of the year and I’m sure this will be on my top 10 list for 2021.
4 people found this helpful
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Jerry Caldwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick cogent explanation on how to quickly (in one minute) get your message across.
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
By doing this…you don’t get bogged down in so much detail that your message becomes a muddled mess.

The goal is communicate in a crystal clear way that your listener knows what they are expected to do with your information. By following the authors instruction you avoid confusing your listener. When your listener knows the goal…problem…and solution…they can quickly decide if they can help or not, or refer to the proper person, or even if they have the time to discuss things further.

Buy this book because it will save you tons of time normally wasted when your listener is confused and want more and more details.
7 people found this helpful
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Inspired
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a slogan - put to use immediately!
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Practical, thoughtful and well-presented advice that can be put to good use immediately. Techniques and explanations that apply in a variety of situations - from business, to sales, social events and personal interactions. Have found this to be a valuable, worthwhile read - so much so that I'm back to buy more for work team and as gifts! Well done, Mr. Fenning!
3 people found this helpful
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Rick Barlow
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy-to-read and useful
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
I consider myself an effective communicator. Nevertheless, this book really upped my game for initiating effective and engaging professional conversations. I would 100% recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Adrien
5.0 out of 5 stars A must (quick) read for effective communication
Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I highly recommend this book on effective business communication. ~90 mins read.
In simple terms, it explains practical methods of packaging and tailoring information to deliver positive results in less time.

Having worked in Defense for over a decade, I was both surprised and delighted to discover that many of the techniques described are inherently part of military writing.
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Adrien
5.0 out of 5 stars A must (quick) read for effective communication
Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2023
I highly recommend this book on effective business communication. ~90 mins read.
In simple terms, it explains practical methods of packaging and tailoring information to deliver positive results in less time.

Having worked in Defense for over a decade, I was both surprised and delighted to discover that many of the techniques described are inherently part of military writing.
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One person found this helpful
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André Arcas
5.0 out of 5 stars Objetivo, simples e eficaz
Reviewed in Brazil on July 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
O livro aborda como se comunicar de maneira eficaz no ambiente de trabalho. A comunicação interpessoal é um problema gigante no mundo corporativo, trazendo uma série de problemas quando trabalhamos em equipe. O livro traz uma metodologia simples de aplicar, mas muito eficaz para resolver essa questão. Leitura rápida, vale muito a pena pra quem quer aprender a se comunicar melhor.
2 people found this helpful
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars muy muy útil
Reviewed in Spain on May 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
Libro clave si quieres captar la atención y que te escuchen. Aplicable a todo tipo de mensajes. Como empezar una presentación o una reunión o un email. Tan sencillo como raro de ver en muchas comunicaciones de empresa.
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Good buy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
I’ll recommend to improve communication skills at work
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Andrea Iacchetti
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and effective
Reviewed in Italy on March 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great reading, very well structured with a lot of practical examples.
Immediately applicable to day to day activity independently from your level in the organisation.
It improved a lot the effectiveness of my communication skills.
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