How to Give Good Advice
Some say the best way to give advice is to make the recipient believe she thought of it himself. When your friends, family and business colleagues ask you for advice, they often are looking for someone who will listen to them and offer fresh information they can use to reach a conclusion. Give good advice by abandoning your personal biases and assumptions, listening well and sharing your knowledge and professional contacts.
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Instructions
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Listen to your friend or family member. Help her to make sense of her issue by letting her explain the situation without interruption.
If the person who needs advice is a business client, listen to her as she states her specific needs before thinking of products or services you would advise her to purchase.
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Ask if you may offer advice when you think you can provide insight to a friend or family member. Communication expert Uzi Weingarten recommends saying you have come up with some ideas as you have been listening, and asking if she would like to hear them. If the answer is no, accept it without hard feelings.
In a business relationship, the client likely already knows you will offer advice. Restate her needs as you have understood them by listening and ask whether you comprehend them correctly.
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Use your knowledge of the subject to offer advice but do not turn the discussion into one about you. Avoid phrases that start with: "When that happened to me, I did ..." or "I know what you mean, that was hard for me, too." Customize advice to her personality and situation, rather than assuming the solutions that worked for you will also work for her.
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Relay names, phone numbers and email addresses of professionals in your network who may be able to help her. According to a 2010 study published in "Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes," specific advice such as how to invest money is best received when it is given by professionals.
In business scenarios, you will usually be the professional who offers advice. If your customer's needs extend beyond your realm of expertise, refer her to a trusted colleague for additional help.
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Converse with honest and respectful dialogue. If your friend, family member or client is not receptive to your advice, do not be pushy. She may need more time to process your discussion or your advice may not be suitable for her particular situation.
Avoid criticism, especially when it relates to something she cannot change. For example, if a friend asks you about her new hair color, do not tell her it is unflattering. Instead, suggest ways she could style her hair that would make it look best or refer her to your hairdresser to see if highlights or a new cut would enhance her appearance.
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Tips & Warnings
In business, honest and genuine advice may not always be the best way to secure a deal or make a sale. Many professionals strive to offer quality advice, so that their clients trust them and will continue to work with them.
Give advice that is informative and free of bias. Straightforward advice is most well received because it allows the recipient to take ownership of her decisions, according to the 2010 study published in "Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes."
References
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