How Listening Makes You a Better Speaker with Julian Treasure

Julian Treasure has given five TED talks, with a combined audience of hundreds of millions of views. His message is simple and counterintuitive: the most important skill for speakers is not speaking. It's listening.

Audiences don't hear your message as delivered. They hear it through filters -- culture, mood, expectations, the speaker before you, the acoustics of the room, even the time of day. If you're not listening to their listening in real time, you're speaking into a void and hoping for the best.

This is one of the most thought-provoking conversations the show has produced, and essential listening for any speaker who wants to truly land their message rather than just deliver it.

What you'll learn in this episode

Why speaking and listening form a circle rather than a straight line, the listening filters that shape how audiences receive your message, how to handle the graveyard slot and other attention dips, what to do when the speaker before you has poisoned the room, the gift visualisation that instantly improves your on-stage presence, why sound affects physiology, focus, behaviour, and buying decisions, practical advice on microphones, acoustics, and why lavalier mics can betray you, the role of silence and humility in real listening, and how the three intentions -- yours, the audience's, and their intention for themselves -- shape every speaking engagement.

About Julian Treasure

Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert, author, and one of the most-watched TED speakers in the world. He is the founder of the Listening Society, which offers free resources and membership at thelisteningsociety.community. Speaking and listening assessments for individuals and organisations are available at juliantreasure.floot.app. Find out more at juliantreasure.com.

Visit strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form at this link and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect, email john@presentinfluence.com or find John on LinkedIn.

All clips and episodes are on the Present Influence YouTube channel.

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