T.I.M.E.: A Framework for Active Listening

In this session, Dr. John Igwebuike draws on nearly three decades of experience as a listening coach, educator, and advocate to present the T.I.M.E. framework for active listening. Through a memorable classroom icebreaker, personal anecdotes, and research-backed insights, Dr. Igwebuike reveals that listening is a learnable skill that most people have never been formally taught. He challenges the assumption that hearing and listening are the same thing, and demonstrates how intentional, interactive listening can bridge divides, repair relationships, and build genuine human connection. Whether in professional settings, family life, or chance encounters, the T.I.M.E. framework offers a structured, actionable approach to becoming a more present and effective communicator.

Learning objectives

• Apply the T.I.M.E. acronym (Tune in, Interact to increase understanding, Make a deeper human connection, Enhance the relationship) as a structured approach to active listening
• Identify common barriers to active listening, including multitasking, distraction, and the impulse to respond rather than understand
• Distinguish between interactions that increase understanding—such as asking clarifying questions and giving verbal encouragers—and those that decrease it, such as interrupting or ignoring
• Practise remaining open to correction and unexpected perspectives as a pathway to deeper human connection
• Recognise the professional and interpersonal value of formal listening development, given that only 2% of people have received any listening training

Key takeaways

• Active listening is a skill that must be deliberately taught and practised, not simply assumed to develop on its own
• Multitasking during a conversation signals to the speaker that they are unheard and unseen, undermining trust and connection
• Listening with the intent to understand—rather than the intent to respond—is the foundation of meaningful communication
• Small, open responses such as 'Tell me more' can transform a moment of potential conflict into an opportunity for genuine connection
• The T.I.M.E. framework provides a memorable, step-by-step structure that makes active listening accessible and repeatable in everyday situations
• Enhancing a relationship often requires nothing more than the willingness to give another person your full, undivided time and attention