Active listening differs from standard modes of communication. In a normal conversation, each party is usually thinking about how they’ll respond while the other party is speaking — their focus on themselves instead of the speaker.

When using active listening skills, your focus shifts entirely to the other person. It’s an intentional process that has the listener devote their full attention to what the other person is saying, without concern for how they’ll respond. 

While both parties should learn active listening, the skill is particularly important for mentors. Younger students aren’t always the most assertive communicators, and it’s the mentor’s responsibility to help cultivate a thorough understanding of their goals, challenges, and skill development needs. If the mentor talks over their mentee or misses important subtext in the conversation, their charge may shut down and stop contributing fully.