Everyone whether accomplished, educated or with high opinion rates tends to be generous when it comes to giving advice. They probably mean well but in most cases, they do not weigh the outcomes of their generosity. People are all the same when it comes to giving advice. However, men feel more compelled to advice more than women. In most cases, what women want to do is vent their anger and frustrations about certain situations while men prefer giving advice so that they can fix the situation.
Most women have an ability of sharing information, experiences and insights, anxieties etc. without offering or giving advice. On the other hand, men normally have an innate need of solving problems. Even though it is rarely mentioned, there is a protocol that should be followed when giving advice. It does not matter whether it is personal or professional. The first thing is to not assert yourself as an all knowing person. Nobody really cares about the much that you know unless of course they know you care. In cases where you do not care whether the advice you will offer will change or enhance that person, do not bother offering it.
When giving advice, it is very important to show that you care about how the problem is affecting someone and also you have taken your time to understand the problem as a whole. You can accomplish this by enquiring on the root of the problem. Once you have portrayed yourself as a listener who is empathetic enough, ask the person with the problem whether they would want you to advise them. This way, you get the chance to gauge how sincere their interest is in receiving advice from you. Someone who is ready to receive advice will be more receptive to what you tell them. Also, if you as the advice giver take your time to understand and comprehend the context and backdrop of the problem, you are able to know whether you are qualified to give advice to the person who really needs it.
However, when all is said and done, you need to know that there is a difference between giving advice and knowing how to give it. When beginning to give someone advice, create an atmosphere that shows or portrays that there is no big or little problems. That normally helps break the tension and actually opens up a dialogue between the giver and the receiver of the advice. It is also good to acknowledge the fact that the person being advised has taken their time to come and talk to you since that shows that they are ready to be helped.
It is good to let the person receiving advice vent first as you listen closely and try to learn and get the situation as you also try and see what they might actually want to gain from you in the long run. One thing you should never do is giving advice when you haven’t established all the facts.