The Knack of Giving Good Advice

“Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most like it the least.” —Philip Dormer Stanhope, British statesman

You may have really good advice to give to Joe, but if it’s delivered the wrong way (“Joe, I know you’re having difficulty with Mary, but honestly, you should keep your ignorant mouth shut.”), Joe will understandably resent your interference. On the flipside, you could masterfully deliver terrible advice that leads to tragedy, like the invasion of Iraq based on weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist. Advice is much easier to give when someone asks for it, and it’s a privilege to be asked. Tread carefully when giving unsolicited advice.   Continue reading →