How to Give Great Advice Four tips to help you offer genuinely helpful advice that leads to good decisions.

By Nadia Goodman

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

How many times have you offered advice only to watch that person make the opposite choice? The way we usually give advice -- by imposing our own opinion -- is often ineffective, and even harmful.

"Advice is not interpreted in a vacuum," says Reeshad Dalal, a psychologist at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., who studies effective decisions and advice. "Rather, advice comes freighted with implications regarding power and autonomy."

Knowing how to give helpful advice, especially when you're the boss, can improve your working relationships and lead to better business decisions.

Try these four tips to become an expert advisor that others respect and trust:

1. Only give advice when asked.
Most of us give advice automatically when someone shares a problem, but our good intentions can backfire. "Decision-makers perceive unsolicited advice as intrusive and as implied criticism," Dalal says. "It's a threat to their autonomy."

Unsolicited advice sends a message that you're jumping in because they can't handle the problem. It leaves them feeling less competent and capable, undermining their ability to handle the situation themselves. To ensure that your advice is more helpful than harmful, only share it if you're explicitly asked. Otherwise, just listen and empathize.

2. Offer information about the options.
When giving advice, people with more experience often make the mistake of assuming that they know best. "While you may have greater expertise on the topic as a whole, the decision-maker may have greater expertise about the specific decision to be made," Dalal says.

To offer expertise in a way that's truly helpful, use it to inform the person about the decision at hand. Tell them what you know about their options, possibly offering a recommendation, then let them use that information to make a sound decision.

Related: How to Improve Your Critical Thinking Skills and Make Better Business Decisions

3. Help think through the problem.
Traditional advice (of the you-should-do-this variety) might persuade someone to agree with you, but it does very little to help them learn and grow. "Sometimes, having a 'good impact' involves deliberately opting not to persuade," Dalal says.

Instead of imposing your opinion, guide them through the process you might use to reach a conclusion. Ask the questions you would ask yourself, and give them an opportunity to talk through the options with you. That approach will help build problem-solving skills that translate to future dilemmas.

4. Express confidence in their judgment.
When someone is facing a dilemma, they need self-confidence to trust their intuition and make an informed choice. "It helps to offer emotional support in addition to advice," Dalal says. "People appreciate both."

If someone comes to you for advice, let them know that you're here to help but you trust them to make an intelligent decision. Your confidence may be all the advice they need.

Related: What It Takes to Be a Boss Every Employee Loves

Nadia Goodman is a freelance writer in Brooklyn, NY. She is a former editor at YouBeauty.com, where she wrote about the psychology of health and beauty. She earned a B.A. in English from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. Visit her website, nadiagoodman.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Marketing

Why Most Startups Fail to Get National Press — and What To Do Instead

Tech startups often struggle to gain national news coverage. Here's how startups can achieve that elusive national media attention.

Business News

Elon Musk's xAI Is Hiring Engineers for Its Anime 'AI Companions' — With Salaries Up to $440,000 a Year

xAI launched a set of "AI companions" earlier this week, with a third on the way.

Side Hustle

How to Build Endless Passive Income With This Simple Online Hustle

Autopilot stores aren't just income streams. They are passports to freedom, flexibility and finally working and living on your own terms.

Side Hustle

This 29-Year-Old's Side Hustle Brought People 'to the Dark Green Side.' It Made $10,000 Within 2 Days and Sees 6 Figures a Month.

Nikki Seaman began work on her business when the pandemic led to grocery store shutdowns.

Business News

ChatGPT's New Update Can Create PowerPoint Presentations and Excel Spreadsheets for You

The new AI agent can generate Google Sheets and slide decks, making it a powerful new office tool.

Health & Wellness

This Is the Newest Real Estate Trend You Can't Miss — and It's Worth $438 Billion

A rapidly emerging new trend is sweeping the global real estate sector, powered by humanity's collective desire for longer lives and healthier lifestyles. Here's what entrepreneurs should pay attention to to capture the new market.