People Appreciate This More When You Do This

The next time you encounter someone who seeks your advice on their situation, consider: how can I help this person explore how to get to their answer? They are typically not looking for someone to tell them the answer.

Asking for help takes courage. It takes overcoming the feeling of becoming a burden, being judged, and rejected by peers or society. 

Everyone's situation is unique. People may not disclose the full extent of their circumstances for many reasons; some may still be assessing. They also process things differently and at their own pace through the lens of their experiences. They all want to get to their answer, which makes the most sense for their situation.

As humans, we have this remarkable natural disposition to deconstruct almost every piece of information, including advice, and reconstruct it back into our perceived real-world scenario to validate suitability to our needs. A checksum approach, if you will. So it is not surprising that any bit of advice, even if it's seemingly the right one, often fails to resonate when people's sentiments, thoughts, or journeys are trivialized or not considered. They fail to commit to or own the answer, or worst, regret asking for help in the first place. 

By first thinking that the person is looking for help on how to get to their answer will shift how effective you are in supporting them. Suspending habits like asserting a strong perspective and instead adopting a consultative mindset elevates the entire experience. You would be empowering them with curious and inspiring questions that open-up possibilities they may not have considered yet. By doing so, you help them navigate through their situation to arrive at their own answer. 

You will come across as more perceptive, encouraging, and dependable to the persons seeking your advice. They will appreciate your empathy, consideration, and compassion. It will build your relationship with them.

Wishing you and all beings a very safe, peaceful, and prosperous New Year!