Workshop: Listening to Improve Collaborative Discussion with Dr. John Igwebuike

Additional session by popular demand! Listening to Improve Collaborative Discussion: Turning Monologue into Dialogue

How can we stop talking past each other, and start building real understanding? Listening helps transform monologue into dialogue—yet most of us have never been taught how to truly listen.*

Featuring IF Collaborative Discussion Project (CDP) Visiting Fellow Dr. John Igwebuike, this Listening to Improve Collaborative Discussion Workshop explores listening as a critical yet overlooked skill for effective group work, community-building, and leadership. You will get an exclusive introduction to brand-new activities, not yet publicly released, from the free Collaborative Discussion Toolkit that help develop the listening practices essential for productive, inclusive, and purpose-driven conversations.

Dr. John Igwebuike is a nationally-recognized active listening activist, founder of The Lead Listening Institute, and creator of the Guanacaste: Transformational Listening Conference. His TEDx talk on the T.I.M.E. method offers a powerful framework for becoming a better listener. Watch his TEDx Talk – “Strategies for Active Listening.” You can also read an IF interview with John here.

Rooted in both research and practical application, John’s session will guide you through key strategies for active listening before, during, and after dialogue—equipping you to improve collaboration across context from the personal to the professional and even the political.

During this workshop, you will:

• Learn to identify and overcome common listening challenges
• Practice active listening strategies that support collaborative engagement
• Try out adaptable activities from the free CDP Toolkit—ready to use in group settings, meetings, or facilitation work
• Reflect on personal listening styles through self-awareness and self-assessment
• Explore listening from both listener- and speaker-centered perspectives
• Gain a deeper understanding of how listening can strengthen dialogue, relationships, and collective problem-solving

Whether you’re an educator, team leader, facilitator, or community builder, this workshop offers a transformative opportunity to practice, improve, and learn how to facilitate one of the most foundational skills for meaningful discussion. It promises a powerful shift in how you understand and engage in dialogue.

When: 10am – midday (eastern) on September 6

Where: Online via Zoom, with small group breakout sessions

How much does it cost? Free

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Interested in deepening your skillset even further in Listening for Collaborative Discussion? Join our full CDP Coach Training with Dr. John Igwebuike this Fall!

*According to the International Listening Association, only 2 in 100 people have received any formal listening training.