Giving Advice

There are times when it seems that everyone has advice about what you should be doing. Just because they do not know your circumstances or your needs, or how you perceive a situation, they are still there with what they believe is the way to fix your mistakes. I know I make my fair share of errors.  It just aggravates me when someone who only sees a small sliver of the concerns tries to force their solution into my life.   

This happens to everyone. And I have a secret for you, it’s also perpetrated by everyone. Yes, in one way or another, at one time or another, we all fall into the trap of thinking we know what’s best for someone else. And sometimes, we do this whether we mean to do it, or not.

If you find someone has taken you under their wing as their fix-it project for the week, thank the person kindly, take a quick check to make sure whether or not they are correct. And then move forward with what you know you need to do. Taking a few moments for a sanity check is always considered a viable action.

If the person giving you advice becomes aggressive in seeing suggestions implemented, your only real action is avoidance. You’re not saying they’re awful people. Because most people like this, including ourselves when we do it, are well-meaning. And yet, when push comes to shove, each and every one of us can back into the blunder of trying to force our way of doing things on someone else.

I do not wish to superimpose my thoughts into how you handle such offerings of this kind. I can only tell you what I strive to do in such situations. The first thing is to wait until asked to provide any ideas or comments. And secondly, when and if I am asked, I respond genuinely with care and understanding.

Thank you for reading the blog. I’ll write another one again on Monday.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof