The art of giving good workplace advice
Three takeaways:
Even if someone asks you for it, giving advice can often be a counterproductive act. But it doesn’t have to be that way– and being great at giving advice can help you maximize the happiness and effectiveness of those around you.
Author and advice expert Michael Stanyay society falsely teaches us that giving advice is a sign of success, and that leaders in particular must prove their value by liberally dispersing it. While we might have good intentions, we often rush to give advice that serves our ego more than it does the person receiving it. A 2018 study found that giving advice helped participants overcome a lack of motivation or confidence more than receiving advice did.
When giving advice in the modern workplace, there are some important things to remember to make your advice the most effective while ensuring that it does not offend the person receiving it:
- Remember that no one has all the answers anymore: As technology transforms the workplace and required skills become more diverse, it is unrealistic for leaders to have all the answers. Know when a question goes outside of your expertise, and find those with specialized skills in the workplace who can be counted on to help with area-specific questions.
- Know the difference between advice vs. coaching: instead of offering advice, become a coach: help others devise their own solutions by asking them leading questions. This may be slightly more time consuming, but it can boost motivation and help people develop their problem-solving skills.
- Be conscious of your framing: To avoid offending the person receiving your advice, frame it in a way that allows them to ignore it without losing face. Adding a qualifier like, “These ideas worked for me, but they may not work for you. I’ll just throw them on the table and if there’s something useful – great. If not, that’s fine as well” can help assuage any potential ego hit to the recipient, and therefore make it easier for them to implement your advice.
Giving better advice will help you build trust and credibility in the workplace, positioning you as a valuable resource for colleagues– while offering the added benefit of better overall decision making and productivity among your colleagues.
By Jessica Mudditt, for The BBC
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