We all like to give good advice, don’t we. Especially if the advice is really good. The thing is that sometimes the manner in which we give advice is just as important as the advice itself.

Check out: 3 Essentials for Giving Better Advice

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Listen

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Glossary

• constitute – be (a part) of a whole
• idiosyncratic – relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual
• heed – pay attention to; take notice of
• luminary – a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere
• ruminate – think deeply about something
• nuptial – relating to marriage or weddings
• proclivity – a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition towards a particular thing
• arcane – understood by few; mysterious or secret
• sage – profoundly wise

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Think about it

Answer the questions below.

• What does Ted Wang think about offering advice to advisers themselves?
• What kind of dynamic do good advisers understand and how do they use this knowledge?
• According to Wang, do complex matters demand long, in-depth explanations?
• How do analogies help listeners deal with complex matters?
• Why is context so important when offering advice?

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Practice makes perfect

Fill in the blank spaces with the words in bold.

 method    –    luminaries    –    ruminate    –     ultimate     –    principles    –    tailor 

“Some people prefer to work through an issue from first ________, rigorously stepping through the logic chain that leads to the ________advice. Others are heavily influenced by the way that industry ________ have approached the same problem. Good advisers understand this dynamic and ________ their advice appropriately,” he explains.

You should not only take note of your advisees’ preferred ________ of reasoning, but also consider the pace at which they’re comfortable making decisions. If one is a fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants type, go with that. If you need to give an advisee time to ________, do.

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Fill in the blank spaces with the missing words. Use ONE word per blank space. 

“I am sometimes asked to give advice ________ a very narrow topic without ________ given any context. That’s like asking ________ doctor to diagnose a patient without ________ an examination,” Wang insists. “To get an accurate diagnosis, further investigation is required. Is this the first time this issue ________ arisen? What is the next best alternative? What have the conversations with the other party been like ________ date? Without understanding these types of parameters, it is difficult to give sage counsel.”

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