Amy Fish – Big Idea Speakers

You can’t get what you want unless you ask for it. But this is often easier said than done. Amy Fish, keynote speaker and author of “I Wanted Fries With That”, will help event the shyest of wallflowers receive better treatment, better service, and even yes, better wages.

At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced an injustice, large or small — a restaurant botching our lunch order or a boss who isn’t following the guidelines for workplace etiquette — and suffered in silence for fear of offending anyone. When we fail to speak up, however, we shortchange ourselves.

Amy Fish encourages standing up for yourself (and others) by complaining effectively. Her suggestions will appeal to anyone who wants to speak up and isn’t sure where to start, including managers navigating workplace disputes, couples who argue about the same things over and over, and even someone with a friend with garlic breath. Illustrating her points with funny real-life stories, Amy’s keynote presentations reveal pragmatic methods to redress grievances with civility, honesty, and fairness for everyone involved — whether you’re trying to right the wrongs of the world or just claim the french fries you ordered.

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BIOGRAPHY:

Amy Fish is the Chief Complaints Officer, also known as the Ombudsperson at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. She is responsible for promoting fairness and making sure everyone’s voice is heard. Prior to Concordia, Amy was the Ombudsperson for several long term care facilities. Amy regularly teaches, speaks and writes about how complain effectively (i.e., stand up for yourself and ask for what you need.)

Amy teaches writing workshops at the Quebec Writing Federation, Hippocamp Conference for Creative Non- Fiction and at her kitchen table. She specializes in humour writing and memoir.

Amy’s work has been published in Hippocampus Magazine, Readers’ Digest, Huffington Post and several other journals.

SPEECH TOPICS

Complaining Effectively Can Change The World

We all want to make the world a better place, but most of us don’t know where to start. Amy Fish, author of “I Wanted Fries With That: How to Ask for What You Want and Get What You Need” is an expert in tips and techniques that turn a raving rant into a complaint that works. In this talk, Amy walks us through the six key tips for complaining effectively – each illustrated with a colorful anecdote pulled from her years of experience as a professional Ombudsman. Whether you want equal pay for equal work or you’re just looking for a side of fries, Amy’s tips will show you how you can be instrumental in changing your life – and the world – for the better.

Key Takeaways:

Mindset for complaining effectively;
How to frame your concerns in the most positive possible way;
How to handle roadblocks in your pursuit of justice; and
When to let go and move on.

Painless Complaint Resolution

All of us have days where we are overwhelmed by complaints from co-workers, customers and our families. Is it possible to avoid the stress and anxiety associated with a constant stream of negative energy? Amy Fish, Chief Complaint Officer at Concordia University and author of “I Wanted Fries With That: How to Ask for What You Want and Get What You Need, says yes. Complaint resolution can be painless, creative and even fun. In this talk, Amy teaches us the ABCDE of resolving complaints each illustrated by a true story taken from her adventures as a complaints professional. Even if you can’t satisfy everyone’s demands, Amy will show you how to attack these complaints in the calmest possible way. This talk resonates well with customer service audiences across any industry.

Key Takeaways:

Best response to complaint e-mails;
How to deal with chronic complainers who are never happy;
How to recognize and handle a serious issue; and
When to close the door and move on.

Customized talk for Health Care Groups:

Amy has an expansive background in health care. She was the Quality Improvement Administrator for the American Academy of Neurology in Minnesota; she’s worked at a number of community health care agencies, where her responsibilities included designing and giving workshops for front line staff and visiting nurses, as well as in-home personal care givers. She also taught courses in the field, such as: How to deliver bad news, How to say I’m sorry in the workplace, and Dealing With Difficult People.

More recently, she worked as the Ombudsperson for several long term care facilities in Montreal, and then became Director of Quality and Multi-Disciplinary Services for a multi-site, university affiliated healthcare network. Amy’s background makes her the perfect speaker for your next healthcare related event!

Praise for I Wanted Fries With That:

“Readers looking for advice on raising concerns effectively will find this guide to be a valuable tool.” — Publishers Weekly

“Self-improvement has never been easier or more enjoyable, engaging, amusing, and effective. Amy Fish delivers clear-cut instructions with passion and wit, teaching even the most reluctant complainers how to speak up for themselves. You’ll laugh your way to a stronger, better you.” — Lara Lillibridge, bestselling author of Mama, Mama, Only Mama: An Irreverent Guide for the Newly Single Parent

“Fresh, crisp, and terrifically useful advice. Especially good for those of us who’ve never had the nerve to send back a dish at a restaurant, these easy scripts and practical examples will help us all learn a kinder, gentler way of making things better.” — Sam Bennett, author of Get It Done

“Take it from someone who avoids complaining at all costs: Amy Fish’s I Wanted Fries with That made me want to speak up and speak out! She offers practical advice laced with enough humor to make even the most skittish of us stand up and get exactly what we want.” — Athena Dixon, author of No God in This Room

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