#CareerCounsel: Seeking advice in the right way

It’s always good to talk about how you are doing at work. Good or bad, it’s great to discuss what’s working and what needs improvement. But is this always easy? Especially if it’s something that you feel needs to change. How can you decide who is best to speak to?

#CareerCounsel (clue is in the name) love to give advice, but we also recommend finding people to talk to directly. Here’s what to do…

What’s the problem?

To determine who the best person to approach is, and how, you need to get to the root of your issue. Here’s an example:

You’re struggling to get along with a colleague, so you pull another colleague aside to tell them how you feel.

You have now involved someone who probably didn’t want to be and probably feels just as uncomfortable as you. You also can’t be sure they won’t express this to other people, which could end badly!

So, now you see why the problem itself determines who you should seek advice from.

A quick poll

We ran a quick poll asking: ‘When faced with a career related issue, who do you seek advice from first?’ Here are the results…

It seems the majority feel that each situation is different; therefore you should consider who you seek advice from carefully. However, very close behind was the belief that a colleague is the best person to seek advice from for a work related problem.

This is quite surprising, but it does mean that those who responded with this answer have a genuine trust with a colleague they can confide in.

It’s not surprising to see family or friend get some votes, but perhaps a bit lower than expected. While family and friends are great support, do they know enough about your work environment to offer the best advice? 

Most surprising is that no one who took part in our poll thought a manager could be approached for advice in a difficult work situation. Managers are there to offer support and feedback, so surely they are the right people to talk to in some situations?

Evaluate who you can talk to

Family/Friends – Do you need some words of encouragement after a tricky week? Your family and close friends can act as a great support system when you simply haven’t had a great week. They can pick you up and remind you why you do what you do!

Colleague – From the responses to our poll, it seems some people can rely on their colleagues for work related advice. If you feel a colleague can help in a certain situation without being affected or brought into something they would be uncomfortable with, speak with them in an environment away from work so you can chat freely.

Manager – Not feeling challenged in your role? Maybe you’ve tried to work with a colleague but there is not a good work relationship no matter how hard you’ve worked for a solution? You can approach your manager for a multitude of things, but you should always ensure you approach the situation carefully. Make sure you’re clear on what you need to communicate and how you are willing to resolve the issue yourself with their advice.

So, the next time you feel you need advice, have a think about who would be the best person to approach before pouring your heart out to the wrong person.