Ask for Advice, Not Feedback
7 August 2026
I read this seemingly obvious but highly effective piece from Adam Grant recently. (Link in comments.)
The gist is as follows:
Instead of asking, “Can you give me feedback?”, try asking, “What advice would you give me?”
It may sound like a play of words, but it changes the conversation.
Feedback often makes people either praise you or criticize you. Advice encourages them to think about what you could do differently going forward, making their suggestions far more practical and actionable.
Feedback judges the past. Advice helps design the future.
