Receiving feedback plays a huge part in anybody’s life. Feedback can be both positive or negative. It is on the individual on the receiving end to decide how he/ she takes even feedback whether it is negative or positive. But, when the research was conducted, it was found that giving advice is better than giving feedback.

When we are asked to give someone feedback, we look at the end result on which a final comment is passed with the statement of whether or not the end result is fruitful. But when a person is asked for advice regarding something, the person is asked about the opinion of whether or not the process of the task carried out correctly, was there any other way or better way to generate the same or better result, the solution of what else could have been done and much more. 

When a person is asked for advice instead of feedback, there is a broadway opened for suggestions for areas and ways of improvement.

Many a time we have heard that one should always take feedback from their colleagues. However, research suggests that feedback either have no impact or negative impact on the performance. The feedback we receive is often too ambiguous — it fails to suggest what could have been improved, or how it could have been improved. When the research was conducted, it showed that when people sought advice instead of feedback, they received effective inputs.

In one study, a few people were asked to share their inputs. Few of them were asked to share it in the form of feedback, while others were asked to share it in the form of advice. And it was found that those people who gave their feedback were found to give ambiguous feedback, generally praising comments.

And when it was compared to those who were asked to provide “advice”, they suggested 34% more areas of improvement and 56% of different ways to improve. It is seen that usually feedbacks are linked with evaluations. Whereas, when people are asked to provide advice, people focus less on evaluation and more on possible future actions.

Organizations have a lot of opportunities to learn from peers, colleagues, and clients. Despite its prevalence, seeking advice is often an effective strategy for promoting growth and learning.