I’ve written about giving better advice a few times. But it is a topic I keep coming back to given just how often I encounter bad advice. Here’s attempt #20.
I think there are two steps to becoming a better advice giver.
The first is to only give advice when asked. In the rare cases you’re giving unsolicited advice, make sure you call it out. It’s best avoided no matter how good it is.
The second is to make sure that the first question you ask is to get an understanding of what the person is solving for.
Too often, we just assume and share generic advice that isn’t useful. Shitty advice comes from assumptions about what people are solving for. Or even worse, an assumption that they’re solving for what you would be solving for.
Start with asking that question. Then you have a better shot of giving better advice.
A Learning a Day 