Julian Treasure and the 5 Components of Great Listening

 

Julian Treasure and the 5 Components of Great Listening 

After practicing Julian Treasure’s listening exercise, The Mixer, for three consecutive days, I was able to hear many more channels of sound than I had paid attention to before. Treasure states that this exercise is “a great exercise for improving the quality of your listening” (Treasure). Sitting in my bedroom, I was able to hear things like my mom in the kitchen, my sister playing with the cat, my keyboard clicking, and the washer and dryer running. When I sat outside, I heard my neighbors in their house since we live close by, another neighbor's dog barking, cars on the main road not too far away, and the wind blowing the trees. “The Mixer” exercise made me more aware of my surroundings, and I became very observant. 

Treasures five steps can be easily practiced in our everyday lives. Silence, the first exercise, can be practiced anywhere. Silence helps me clear my mind and hear my thoughts instead of the noise around me. As Treasure puts it, we can “hear the quiet again” (Treasure). The Mixer, the skill I practiced, can be incorporated in any loud or busy environment. Practicing hearing the channels of sound around us improves the quality of our listening (Treasure). Savoring is an exercise that helps us appreciate the mundane. It brings a gratefulness for sounds we might take for granted in a way. We can savor sounds by simply sitting and actively listening. The last exercise, listening positions, is moving your hearing to what’s “appropriate in the moment” (Treasure). Listening positions use the previous four exercises as “levers” so we can focus our hearing on what needs to be heard in the moment. An important meeting, a hurting friend, or even a recipe video. Listening can have a huge impact on our lives and others’. When we can effectively understand and communicate with others, people feel heard and seen. 

 

Works Cited 

Treasure, Julian. “5 Ways to Listen Better | Julian Treasure.” YouTube, 29 July 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSohjlYQI2A. Accessed 8 Feb. 2024.