Why Do I Need to Pick Your Brain?

How many times have you been asked by someone if they can meet you for a coffee and pick your brain about a business idea or issue? No doubt a few times in your business career.

When you get asked this question, how does it make you feel? Valued or devalued? In my opinion the request actually says, “I don’t value what you do”.

Think about it.

Are you at the start-up stage of your business? Of course, you are out networking to make connections, build a trusted group of suppliers and to promote your business. Among the network connections you are making, is there an expert who stands out? Is this individual someone you’d like to gain tips from about how they achieved their success?

Would you like to ask them, “Can I pick your brain?”

Are you an experienced business owner who’s keen to pick the brain of an expert? Are you working on a new project or development and feel you need help to get it to the next level? Is it right to ask an expert, someone you respect and value, “Can I pick your brain?”

When you ask someone to pick their brains, you are asking for free advice.

The act of asking for a freebie immediately devalues the exchange of ideas or help. Your request lessens the value of the expert, your own value and the value of the advice given.

I regularly see business people asking for free advice on online forums. In some groups people ask for simple requests such as venues for training and domain name service providers. In other groups people blatantly ask for free advice to create a marketing plan for business growth or how to design a workshop. As a business performance coach, I’m more than happy to share information about the former however the latter falls into consultancy (paid for) time.

When did you last ask a solicitor for advice that you didn’t have to pay for?

It is no different when you ask a fellow business person. This applies to all business owners. When asked to pick your brain, over and above for advice, this is consultancy time and should always be seen as a high value and paid for transaction – not as a freebie.

While I grew my business, there were occasions when I gave away free advice.

I felt that being helpful was a positive way to build rapport with potential clients. However, most of the free advice I shared remained just that – a free exchange with no follow-on result. This devalued my advice and the value of the exchange for the person as they had not invested any money or focused time into the opportunity. In contrast, I stuck to my principle to avoid asking to pick the brains of respected colleagues.

Being a naturally generous person who loves to help others, I found it became a steep learning curve to start not giving away my knowledge and expertise for free.

I learnt to discourage people from asking to pick my brain (only sharing helpful tips) by saying: “What you have requested help in is consultancy time and my fee is…”

Next time you’re thinking that you’d like to ask to pick the brain of someone you look up to, think value before freebie. Consider how much you value the time it has taken that person to accrue the knowledge and expertise you’d like to gain, how much you value the time and energy they will deliver to you, and how much you value yourself. It all depends on your attitude and mindset.

Investing time and money with a mentor or business coach who inspires you and with whom you have a rapport, will add value to you and your business growth and success.

Discover more about Gail Gibson's business performance coaching programmes for individual and teams www.gailmgibson.com