How to Solicit Advice (And Still Seem Competent)

Studies show that asking for advice is more effective than soliciting feedback — but only if done correctly.

Originally published on JOTFORM.COM

We’ve long been obsessed with the idea of offering “feedback” in the workplace. A quick Google search results in dozens of well-meaning articles offering tips for both giving and soliciting employee feedback.

But, as it turns out, that’s not always the most effective way to get the information you need to improve.

So, you might wonder, what should you try instead? Next time you need some help, don’t ask for feedback: ask for advice.

The pitfalls of feedback

Though feedback is common practice in most workplaces, studies have shown that it’s less helpful than we think. Researchers at the University of London found that when people received feedback about their performance on complex tasks — positive or negative — it actually made their decision making worse.

There are various potential issues with feedback. For starters, it can be too vague. It also assumes your present performance as a baseline and focuses on what you can do to improve. If there was nothing explicitly wrong with that performance, then feedback tends to be positive — even if a…