Chris Fenning | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

I help technical professionals communicate with business teams.

My talks are based on the three core skills you must have to become a great technical communicator:

>> Skill 1: Be clear and concise

>> Skill 2: Use business language

>> Skill 3: Think like an IT leader

Audiences leave my talks with simple, powerful methods they can instantly apply to their work communication.

There is no 'soft' in my communication skill training. I share practical frameworks that you can apply to almost all work situations. The frameworks come from 20 years of working in engineering and IT leadership roles in six different industries.

I'm also a husband and father. When I'm not working you can find me walking or cycling in the countryside with my wife and daughter.

Key info about my experience:

>> I have spoken at both virtual and in-person events around the world.

>> In-person events have been workshop style and stage-based events.

>> Audience sizes range from 5 to 300 people.

>> Audiences have varied from interns up to C-Suite level. All talks are tailored to the audience level with appropriate examples and scenarios.

>> All talks over 30 minutes are interactive with audience participation

P.S. If you would like your IT teams to shake off the label of being bad communicators, we should connect, I'd love to help. Find out more at www.chrisfenning.com

Current position (2)

Award-winning author

Chrisfenning.com

Helping Tech Professionals be great communicators

Chrisfenning.com

Degrees (1)

Aerospace Engineering

University of Southampton

2001 to 2005

Presentations

Presentations (6)

How to get the first minute right

Attendees will learn two methods for starting conversations and for summarizing complex topics. The Framing and GPS summary methods can be used immediately. This session is interactive and uses examples from the attendees own work.

If you want your teams to get to the point, and be able to express complex topics simply, this talk is for you.

Framing: Be a clear communicator every time

Attendees will learn a simple but powerful method for starting any work conversation, meeting, or email. The Framing method is taught in an interactive way using examples from the team's current work. Attendees leave with a tool they can immediately apply to their work and with a better understanding of how to be clear and concise.

If you want people to get to the point, avoid rambling introductions, and have clearer communication, this talk is for you.

How to structure compelling presentations.

Attendees will learn to create compelling presentations by applying two simple, repeatable methods. The methods help the attendees organize the messages and content in their presentations. Instead of giving vague advice about the need to be clear or how to arrange slides, this talk provides a tangible method for exactly what types of message to put in the introduction, main body, and conclusion of a presentation.

If your team presents topics in any forum, this talk is for you.

Impacts and outcomes - a language everyone understands

Attendees will learn how to talk about any topic using language that other teams (especially business teams) will understand. The methods taught will help technical professionals talk to non-technical teams. The methods are simple, and a number of tools and guides are provided to help the attendees apply the methods to their own communication.

If your technical teams struggle to communicate clearly with business stakeholders, this talk is for you.

Status updates people actually want to listen to

Attendees will learn the GPS summary method and how to apply it to status updates. By the end of this talk, the attendees will know how to summarize complex topics, how to give status updates on ONLY the topics the audience cares about and will know how to avoid the issue of not knowing what the audience wants an update about.

If your teams regularly provide verbal or written status updates especially to a senior audience, this talk is for you

Overcome the stereotype that Techies can't communicate

Attendees will learn about the three key skills needed to become a better communicator. By the end of this talk, the audience will have clear targets for what to improve if they want to excel as a communicator at work. They will also leave with simple but powerful frameworks to help achieve the first of the three skills - being clear and concise.

If your technical teams could do better when communicating with the business stakeholders, this talk is for you.

Past talks (5)

How to give status updates people actually want to listen to

PMI Hampton Roads Chapter Event

Virtual - Virginia, USA

May 5, 2021

How to create compelling presentations

Information Systems Security Association Chapter event

Virtual - Indiana, USA

April 8, 2021

How to Get The First Minute Right

COMTO Monthly event