8 Types of Advice (2024)

Everyone at work faces the issue of either givingor receiving advice, if not both, on a regular basis. Sometimes theadvice given and received is good, sometimes it isn’t.

So how does one tell how to dispense or receive advice, and what to do with it?

There are really two elements to advice. There is the content ofthe suggestion itself, the actual advice or opinion that is beingoffered. Second, there is the context, which involves the source of theadvice and the knowledge base from which the advice comes.

In general, we find that most advice falls into at least one ofabout eight categories, which might be of some help the next time youand advice cross paths. There is:

• Career advice. This is the tip that comes along from acolleague or friend about what your next career move should be. Thedanger here is that the advice is based primarily if not solely oninformation you have relayed to the advice-giver, which might, initself, determine the advice coming back.
• Office politics advice. This might be guidance in howto best handle certain personalities involved in a decision process.Our national research shows that the two leading causes of negativeoffice politics are personalities and gossip.

• Sell-service advice. When considering advice,consider the motives behind it. If the advice given primarily helps thedispenser of that advice get ahead and is not necessarily as helpful tothe recipient, the advice itself has to be carefully evaluated.

• High-level advice. This can be the big-picture view,which might be missing in a decision process, as the individual getstoo caught up in the tactical. At times, an outsider’s perspective andcounsel from a higher plane can provide a broader context in which tomake a better decision.
• Too high-level advice. This is at such a high levelthat it becomes irrelevant. For example, while well-intentioned, aperson trying to decide where to take a sales prospect for dinner thatnight might not at that moment need advice on global strategies forclosing large deals.
• Solicited advice. This is the type where you reallydo want another’s viewpoint of either your situation or what you shoulddo. Of course, it is expected that you will heed this advice, since youwent out of your way to ask for it and someone went out of their way togive it to you. They reasonably will expect feedback on your ultimatedecision.
• Semi-solicited. This is when you unwittingly solicitadvice by relaying a situation to someone. While not seeking anysuggestions, inevitably the listener feels compelled to start his orher next sentence with: “Well, my advice to you is” or, “Well, if youwant my advice, you should…”
• Unsolicited advice. In many ways, this is the easiestto deal with, because it is neither desired nor relevant. One caution:there could be a wild card, good piece of advice that comes along everyonce in a while in this category.So now can take my advice and categorize it to deal with. Or not.