Whether we’re in a meeting, listening to our partner talk about their day, or listening to our favorite podcast, we can think of listening as a passive activity. In these scenarios, the person presenting in the meeting, telling you about their day, or hosting the podcast seems like the active participant, when all we need to do is listen. But if we’re doing it right, that’s not the case.

Yes, the speaker and podcaster had to do some prep work, and it probably took some effort for your partner to recount the events of their day, but when you were actively listening to what they had to say, it took some effort on your part, too. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of “active listening” — or you keep seeing it but aren’t sure what it means — here’s what you need to know about what it entails, and why it’s an important skill to develop.

Active listening involves being fully present mentally while someone else is speaking, says Matt Eventoff, founder of Princeton Public Speaking, an executive communications strategy firm. That means you’re not multitasking, formulating your response to what the other person is saying, or letting your mind wander.

It’s also important to note that active listening isn’t limited to a particular type of communication: it can and should be practiced at work, at home, in social situations, in the classroom, while running errands, and so on. And while you may benefit from actively listening to a work meeting, conference presentation, or podcast, the focus here is on one-on-one conversations.