Maya Yael Frai

I recently attended a communications workshop with Bill Hoogterp, thanks to a recommendation from Ben Casnocha. I thoroughly enjoyed it and encourage others to join in. Please reach out if you’re interested and I would be happy to refer you. :)

Here are a couple short lessons and techniques I took away from it:

Multi-dimensional speaking: We often communicate in a flat, 1D manner, but adding layers—2D (intentional delivery), 3D (body language), and 4D (use of space)—can dramatically help delivery. 4D integrates everything and is the most effective (especially in virtual settings).
The shortest distance between you and another person is a story: the easiest way to connect with someone is by sharing an authentic story. Even if they resonate with something super simple and small, it’s already a way to invite someone into the conversation. This helps in almost all contexts to break the ice.
Start with a scene: Instead of starting stories from the beginning, begin in the middle. It captivates attention immediately and then allows you to unpack the story, its significance, and its lessons. For example, if we’re pitching Village to a founder, we can start with a scene from the Grove, then share our network-driven approach to investing.
Voice modulation: there’s a powerful technique in oratory where you speak with a series of changes in your delivery. It can really change how someone internalizes what you’re saying. There are various ways of doing this (adding a 3 second pause, stochastic phrases, tone shifts, speaking from your diaphragm). My challenge is in projecting my voice - however a good rule of thumb is to aim your voice towards the farthest corner of the room. Increasing your volume by a mere 10%—even if slightly uncomfortable—can make a huge difference and won’t actually be disruptive to others as much as you’d think.
5% braver for 5 seconds: Bill shared this mantra that an exec shared with him. She would tell herself this before sharing her opinion in a meeting, even if it meant going against authority. By doing it consistently, she noticed she started to set an example for her team and her performance reviews started to improve. The big lesson here is that fear often overtakes the potential positive impact of our contributions. People trusted her more for being more opinionated. Most of the time, what we say will flop. But if it doesn’t, it could empower others to be more outspoken.
Asking for feedback: We have an internal mantra at Village Global for constant “10%” improvement. He shared an anecdote from Tony Robbins where the primary tactic that contributed the most to his success was feedback. After every speech he gave in his early days, he would discourage compliments from people and specifically ask: 1) what did I do well? 2) what could I have done better? Bill recommends “3 strokes of love, 1 improvement”. Since as humans, we’re more likely to succeed if we generate more positive feedback, but we also need constructive criticism.