An Advice On Advice

‘Advising’ and ‘seeking an advice’, both requires particular skill set.

Today’s topic discusses on this as ‘an advice to give advice and take advice’:



It is important, from whom should we seek an advice? how? at what time and how long? and importantly, why?

It is equally important to whom are we advising? about what? how? when? and very importantly, why?



The right combinations of these answers is of highest important for one to lead the life on a right track; because,

You are just one step away from taking a decision to change your entire life.


If you are in the role of seeking an advice..



1.      Do not be so dependent on others every time, do your homework first.

2.      If there is some scope to try first on your own, do so. Sometimes, problems solves before asking them.

3.      Before taking someone’s time, brief the person about your need.

4.      Ask him/her if he is the right person on the subject matter to approach or not? If not, you can ask for the right person.

5.      Share all the relevant information you have at first and then put your question in a precise format. (Reverse is acceptable but not impressive.)

6.      Express thankfulness for the time and help the person offered you.

7.      Do your additional research on advice, if possible.

8.      If you are not feeling comfortable, reliable or sure with what is advised, check with another suitable person. Do remember to follow the ethics.

9.      Study and analyze why that particular piece of advice is given besides of all other possible options? This is a learning task for yourself.

10.  If the advice didn’t work correctly, first investigate on faults on your own before blaming the advising person. Also, inform him/her about the same, that might turn helpful for both of you.

11.  Give the feedback to the person if the advice worked out well or not. Analyze in both the cases to be future ready.

12.  Enhance yourself such that, next time you could help someone in the same situation you are in today.





If you are in the role of an adviser..



1.      Make the person feel comfortable and relax to discuss with you.

2.      Be clear about what you are exactly asked for? Get the topic clear to yourself first.

3.      If you are unaware about the topic or if you could not help, express that with clean mind and guide the person to the possible source. That is how you are helping by some means itself rather than giving a false reply.

4.      Listen the 'need' carefully and get yourself clear about the expectations from you.

5.      Do not rush to show your superiority or seniority. Help the person with calmness and politeness.

6.      Before suggesting something, make yourself clear and confident.

7.      Be clear about what you are saying. Take care to avoid any space to make assumptions or derive any other meaning than what you said.

8.      Inform as much as needed and possible from you and try to avoid any kind of misleading.

9.      Express the side effects, dangers as well, if you know in advance.

10.  Explain the person about why you gave this particular advice?

11.  Keep yourself open to that person to approach next time in case of need.

12.  Express thankfulness to consider you capable of helping on the topic.

13.  Get the feedback from the person if your advice worked out well or not. Analyze in both the cases to be future ready.

14.  Be comfortable, if person not follows your advice or go to some other person with same question. Consider it as his/her freedom to do so.

15.  Respect the person so that he/she would respect you back.





Must to mention: In any of the either role you are in (and particularly of adviser), ethically, there should not be any hidden agenda which may run a person in fatigue or stress or loss, in any manner.





Any more points, please?




- miPratik




#miPratik #advice #adviser #skills

(pre-posted 15th October 2019 in LinkedIn articles)