A Word of Advice on Giving Better Advice
Mindset Monday
Takeaway: The only thing worse than bad advice is unsolicited good advice. People shouldn’t take bad advice, but people will never take unsolicited good advice.
New Readers: Don’t miss out on new insights. Subscribe now.
The only thing worse than bad advice is unsolicited good advice.
I learned this early in my career. I love helping people reach their goals, and as a fitness coach it is my job to help people analyze their behavior.
I’m also a natural problem solver. If someone shares a problem, my reaction is to give them a solution.
Getting permission is important, though.
As a new coach, when the answer came to me I would immediately share it. This didn’t always have the intended effect.
Bad advice is something people shouldn’t take. Unsolicited good advice is something they will never take.
Always ask permission before giving advice on someone else’s problem.
It can be as simple as saying, “Do you mind if I share my perspective?”
If you find yourself on the other side of this conversation, sharing a problem you’re having, it’s always a great idea to be clear on what you’d like to achieve by sharing this information. Do you want help solving your problem or do you merely need a moment to vent? Be clear so that the other person knows whether it’s ok to give advice or if they should shut their mouth and just listen.
~ Coach Alex