LifestyleThe GuardianTalk less, listen more and six other top tips on giving good advice
Experts say most people asking for advice actually just want to vent, and jumping in too quickly with solutions can do more harm than good.
Are you someone who thinks they have all the answers? Is your experience relevant here? Experts on the questions to ask yourself before giving advice “Often, when people approach you for advice, they just want to talk about how they feel,” says Annalisa Barbieri, advice columnist for the Guardian fo
Advice columnists and coaching experts are urging people to pause before offering advice, saying the urge to fix things often gets in the way of actually helping.
Author Michael Bungay Stanier says even trained coaches move to advice-giving too quickly, and suggests letting a conversation run for at least two to three minutes first.
Simply asking someone whether they want advice or just want to vent can make a big difference to whether your support actually lands.
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