5 ways to better listening.

Here is a nice little video from Julian Treasure exploring the art of listening (7min 51 sec).
Watch (and listen) to it and then have a quick review of the video below. Some useful tools and thoughts to transpose to our patient and team interactions.

If you cant see the screen below, here is the link to Julian’s talk.

We can define listening as making meaning from sound.
We spend roughly 60% of our time listening but retain just 25% of what we hear.

To obtain that meaning we use pattern recognition, differencing and filters based on things such as culture, language, values, beliefs, attitudes, expectations and intentions.

Sound places us in place and time. And listening may be thought of as one of the main ways we perceive the passing of time.

The art of conversation is being replaced by ‘personal broadcasting’.

Conscious listening creates understanding.

5 tools or exercises to improve conscious listening.

• Silence: 3 minutes a day (silence or quietude) is enough to reset your ears.
• The Mixer: Practice breaking down the soundscape into individual ‘tracks’. How many tracks am I listening to now?
• Savouring: Practice enjoying mundane sounds. Really listen to the hidden choir.
• Listening Positions: the most important exercise. Practice moving your listening position
  from active to passive
  from reductive to expansive
  from critical to empathetic.
• RASA (the sanskrit word for juice or essence):
  Receive
  Appreciate
  Summarise
  Ask