Unsolicited Advice Could Be a Game Changer

We've all been there. Someone drops some "wisdom" on you, and your gut reaction is to get defensive or brush it off. You might even get angry, thinking, "Who are they to give me advice?" But what if that advice, as annoying as it might be in the moment, is the missing link you've been looking for? What if it's that extra five percent you need to go from good to great, or even from stuck to unstoppable?

Pause. That's the first move. Don't react; just pause. You see, your ego wants to chime in, wants to remind you that you've been in the game for years, that you're the expert. Maybe you are, but every expert can learn something new. Even the top athletes in the world have coaches for a reason. The second you think you know it all, you're setting yourself up for failure. That advice coming your way? Consider it a tip on the obstacle course that is your career, your life.

You might not want to hear it. Fine. But how you use that advice is the real game. Evaluate it like you would anything else. Break it down. Does it have merit? Can you apply it? If it's trash, discard it, but if it can help you improve, why wouldn't you use it?

When you let advice in, when you let your guard down just enough to consider that you might not have all the answers, that's when growth happens. Who wants to stay static? If you're not moving forward, you're falling behind, simple as that. What you do with the advice is up to you, but, don't miss out on a shortcut or a stepping stone because your pride got in the way.

Your team's watching, too. They see how you handle criticism, how you handle advice. Set the standard. Show them that advice isn't a threat; it's an opportunity. Make it a culture. You want a team that's got your back? Be someone who's open to hearing how things can improve.

Look, a team doesn't function well when its leader is a fortress, impenetrable and static. You have to be a filter, letting the useful stuff in and keeping the junk out. But that starts with you, with the ability to take advice as a tool, not an insult.

The grind doesn't stop, and neither does learning. Next time someone comes to you with a piece of advice, don't just hear it. Listen. Chew on it. Maybe even act on it. The example you set and the culture you create are standards you set for the team. The ripple effect of your actions speaks louder than any motivational speech you can give.

So, the next time advice comes your way, before you brush it off, stop and think: What if this is the game-changer? And what are you going to do about it?