advice

Bad Work Advice

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Bad_Advice

Have you ever gotten bad work advice? If you’re not sure, that’s understandable! Sometimes it’s really hard to know whether the advice we receive is good or terrible.

For instance, imagine that a coworker tells you that you shouldn’t “make waves.” Is that good advice? Would it be wise for you to stay silent about the problematic issues at work? Or would it be better for you to speak up, and try to be an agent of change?

If you’re not sure how to identify bad advice, author Sana Qadar is here to help. When you’re given a questionable recommendation, she suggests that you do the following:

  • Consider the source – Are the people giving the advice impartial and genuinely trying to help? Or would it benefit them if you behaved in a certain way? If the people giving you advice have an ulterior motive, be wary.
  • Consider your needs – Even though the people giving you advice may genuinely be trying to help you, they may not understand what you truly want or need. For instance, they may assume that you want to be promoted or make more money (because that’s what they want), when actually, what you really want is to alleviate your stress and reduce your unmanageable workload. Good advice should always be geared towards your needs, goals, and values. If it’s not, then it’s probably not good advice.
  • Trust your instincts – If you feel upset or uncomfortable when you receive a piece of advice, there’s probably a good reason for it. Think about why you may be having a negative reaction. And trust yourself to make the right decision about whether to follow that advice or not.

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Qadar, S. (2019, November 17). How to tell good career advice from bad. ABC Life. Retrieved from: https://www.abc.net.au/life/what-to-do-when-you-get-bad-career-advice/11687324

What to Do When You Get Unwanted Advice

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Unwanted_Advice

Do you have coworkers who offer you advice – even if you didn’t ask for it or need it? It can sometimes be helpful. But it can also be annoying. Unsolicited and unwanted advice can feel like criticism. You might feel like your coworkers are getting involved because they don’t have confidence in your work or the approach that you’re taking.

So what should you do when you get unwanted advice from a coworker? First, put your pride aside and carefully evaluate what your coworker is saying. Forget about the fact that your coworker might be younger or less experienced than you. It doesn’t matter whether your coworker is a friend – or even friendly. Try to focus on what your coworker is saying and objectively ask yourself, “Is this good advice?” “Would this be an improvement on what I’m currently doing?” If the answer is “yes,” take your coworker’s advice and run with it. But if the answer is “no,” you need to let your coworker know that you’re going to be doing things your way.

But how do you do that nicely? How do you tell your helpful coworker that you’re going to ignore his or her advice? Here are a few things that you could say:

  • “Thanks for your input! But I’d really like to try and work through this on my own.”
  • “I like your suggestion. But I don’t think it’s a good fit for this particular project.”
  • “That’s a good idea, but the client/team/manager wants us to go in a different direction.”
  • “I really appreciate your help, but I already have a plan in mind.”

So remember – try not to get annoyed, be objective, keep an open mind, and (if necessary) let your coworker down easily. Good luck!

 

Kalish, A. (n.d.). 4 phrases to shut down unsolicited advice from your co-workers. The Muse. Retrieved from: https://www.themuse.com/advice/four-phrases-shut-down-unsolicited-advice-at-work