Lend an ear

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand."
Dr Karl Augustus Menninger

Listening is fundamental to mentoring, but it's not always easy to know how to respond if you've just heard something challenging, surprising or upsetting.

Before your next conversation, be it a chat over coffee or a mentoring appointment, take a look at the following articles. They contain some interesting advice on how to approach sensitive situations.

Dealing with difficult relationships at work

Helping a friend in need

Avoiding misunderstandings

Think about a difficult conversation that you've been putting off. Make a note of who you need to talk to and what you need to talk about

Find out more about listening techniques in our Active listening workout

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