How to Express Your Ideas with Precision, with Chris Fenning

Sep 2, 2025

Chris Fenning, a communication expert with global experience in engineering and leadership, shares invaluable insights on expressing ideas clearly. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, stating that mistakes are part of learning. Fenning introduces the TIP and GPS frameworks to help structure conversations and tailor messages for diverse audiences. He also discusses navigating cultural differences in communication styles and offers practical tips to enhance understanding within teams. Learn how to simplify technical language and adapt your approach for effective exchanges!

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INSIGHT

Confidence Is The Main Communication Barrier

Lack of confidence is the biggest barrier for non-native English speakers to communicate clearly at work.
People often repeat themselves because they doubt their first message was understood, which reduces clarity.

ANECDOTE

Top Performer Succeeds With Confidence

A top performer with limited English succeeded because he spoke confidently and clarified as needed.
He prioritized getting the message across over perfect grammar and that made him effective.

ADVICE

Open With Topic, Intent, And Point

Start every work conversation with Topic, Intent, and Point (TIP) to set listener expectations immediately.
Give the headline point first, then provide details so listeners can follow and remember.

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Discover how to make your messages clear and concise in professional English, especially as a non-native speaker. This episode tackles the biggest communication barrier: confidence, and provides practical frameworks to structure work conversations, adapt your message for diverse stakeholders, and navigate cultural differences to communicate with impact.

Meet Our Guest: Chris Fennig is a communication expert whose background spans engineering, project management, and leadership in over 20 countries. He shifted from corporate life to teaching, sharing "hard-won experience". Chris believes that communication is "absolutely a learnable skill set".

Top Takeaways:

Boost Confidence: Speak with conviction; mistakes are part of learning, not a barrier to clarity.
Structure Work Talks: Use Topic, Intent, Point (TIP), then Goal, Problem, Solution (GPS) for clarity.
Adapt for Your Audience: Translate technical terms into "efforts and outcomes" they value.

Vocabulary Corner:

Go by the bushes: Meaning: To avoid direct communication, often using elaborate or indirect language. Example: "Instead of going by the bushes, please get straight to the point about the project deadline."
Culture shock: Meaning: A feeling of confusion or discomfort experienced when encountering a new culture or way of doing things. Example: "Moving from a highly social work environment to a very direct one gave me culture shock."
Hard-won experience: Meaning: Valuable knowledge or skill gained through significant effort and challenges. Example: "Chris Fennig's communication expertise comes from hard-won experience in over 20 countries."
Stakeholders: Meaning: Individuals or groups who have an interest in or are affected by a project or business. Example: "It's crucial to tailor your message to different stakeholders, like technical teams versus management."
Sugar coat: Meaning: To make something difficult or unpleasant seem more appealing or less severe. Example: "She preferred not to sugar coat the bad news, but to deliver it directly."

Helpful Links & Tools:

Chris Fennig's Website: https://chrisfenning.com/
Chris Fennig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/
Chris Fennig's Books (e.g., "The First Minute"): https://chrisfenning.com/books/
Book Recommendation: "The Culture Map" by Erin Mayer: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/

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