What’s your point? Communication expert Chris Fenning reveals how the first 60 seconds can make or break a workplace conversation — and shares a three-step framework to help you get it right. (Recorded at TEDxEindhoven on November 7, 2024)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more:
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #Business
@Noyon-q3e
October 11, 2026 at 2:03 pm
🥰🥰🥰
@TardigradeTough
October 11, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Not very good is he I was bored after about 30 seconds, maybe get good on the thing youre trying to teach!?
@トワイライト_0
October 11, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Do you have a low attention span … He literally integrated TIP throughout the whole presentation …
@Anastaysha-02
October 11, 2026 at 3:12 pm
@ト@トワイライト_0 I think the education section he’s looking for is English and grammar.
@トワイライト_0
October 11, 2026 at 3:46 pm
@Anastaysha-02 Definitely 😭
@novoscient
October 11, 2026 at 2:19 pm
TIP :
. Topic
. Intention
. Point
@StoriesWithEvelynHart
October 11, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Chris asking if anyone has ever walked into a meeting hoping to be long-winded and unclear really stayed with me — what a gentle way to show us something we all recognize in ourselves. As someone who has sat through many meandering meetings over the years, it touched me to hear him admit he was responsible for some of that poor communication too. Thank you for this, TED. Please keep bringing talks like this to us.
@BritishRick
October 11, 2026 at 2:32 pm
The most boring kind of conversation is the kind that does not bounce off because no one says anything. How am I going talk to someone who just goes “Hi” with no way to bounce off. It is small talk, small talk it is the worst, it is boring. “How are you feeling” am I supposed to feel something, how can bounce off that if I feel nothing at that moment. I ain’t liar, I am not going to say “I am delighted” without actually feeling that.
So I think he is wrong, about saying nothing and convo will start. It’s the opposite it destroys a conversation. Destroys potential connection. No one approaches someone, random and goes “HI, HOW ARE YOU.” Maybe it is British thing, but that never works, because you feel like you are some plague. And it is not engaging enough to bounce off.
@TardigradeTough
October 11, 2026 at 5:21 pm
I always start with my day like “Hi I’ve drawing zips on pigs today what’ve you been upto?” Guaranteed to not get silence!
@egx161
October 11, 2026 at 2:41 pm
When you ask for the time, don’t explain how a watch works.
@egx161
October 11, 2026 at 2:49 pm
I try to follow the four agreements. Toltec wisdom. Very simple and very difficult.
@Anastaysha-02
October 11, 2026 at 3:09 pm
Common sense isn’t a common application. Great depth and clarification here.🙏🏻🩵
@HUH_777_uno
October 11, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Good stuff! Buddha’s questions: Is what you plan to communicate true (factual)? Is it necessary to communicate it? Will the person I want to communicate with benefit from the information I want to communicate? If the answer to all of these is Yes, go ahead and communicate with T.I.P.😊
@달러복사하는러너
October 11, 2026 at 4:05 pm
대화의 첫 60초를 어떻게 해야 하는지 난 귀가 뚫리지 않아서 들리지않는다.
In Seoul KOREA.
@KMHill
October 11, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Productivity should not always be the singular objective. Some topics require depth.
@LakesGeek
October 11, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Thanks I needed to hear a tip like this. I am *notorious* for long winded emails at work that my boss I’m 99.7% sure probably rolls his eyes at. Usually I’m given a polite comment thanking me for the usual comprehensive attention to detail but yes I am self aware and am really struggling to cut down my rambling. I always feel that I have a lot of information and reasoning that needs to be conveyed and don’t know how to cut it down, but this at least gives a starting point that either makes it worth reading or acts as a tl;dr that still gets the job done.
@SteVeL_318
October 11, 2026 at 7:26 pm
The irony of him taking 10min to deliver a 5 min message.
@the.carebear
October 11, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Very good, but it should be lost on none of us that he just spent 11 minutes telling us to get to the point.