Respect the person’s wishes because if you don’t back off, it will come across as if you have an agenda. People often go to those close to them for advice, even if family members and friends aren’t always in the best position to effectively assist, Dr. Tost said. Ask yourself: “Do I have the expertise, experience or knowledge needed to provide helpful advice in this situation?” If you do, fantastic! If you don’t, rather than give potentially unhelpful advice, identify someone who is in a better position to help. Certified life coach and leadership trainer Dee C. Marshall makes sure to praise the advice-seeker before she offers a single suggestion.

Source: New York Times October 21, 2019 05:48 UTC