The First Minute
How many times have you sat through a meeting, or listened to a presentation, and found yourself silently asking, 'Why are we here?' That unspoken question, lingering in the first few moments, is often the silent killer of engagement, clarity, and ultimately, progress. We tend to rush into the 'what' of our message, overlooking the listener's fundamental need for context and purpose. This isn't just about being polite; it's about respecting their cognitive load and their time. A project manager diving straight into tasks without first framing the meeting's objective leaves half the room mentally adrift, trying to catch up instead of contributing. Chris Fenning argues that the first minute isn't a warm-up; it's the most critical strategic window you have to align minds, set expectations, and invite genuine participation. It's the difference between an interaction that lands and one that simply drifts.