Posted by When times are tough, you might find yourself needing to pivot your usual strategies and figure out a new way of working – we all saw this happening during the Pandemic, when businesses had to change their processes virtually overnight, and it might feel like we’re heading for another economic crisis again now.
At times like these, it can seem like everyone has an opinion on what you should do. Friends and family, colleagues, industry experts, and countless online voices all offer guidance—some of it asked for, much of it not. The challenge isn’t finding advice; it’s working out whose advice actually deserves your attention.
This week, I’m talking about who you should listen to, and who you should be politely ignoring, and sharing some of my own tips.
The advice paradox
When you need guidance the most, you’re often faced with two problematic scenarios.
There’s either an advice overload, where you have too many people giving you too much conflicting opinions, with more contradictions than you can shake a stick at, or you get stuck in an echo chamber, where confirmation bias only makes you hear the stuff that confirms what you want to hear.
Either situation can lead to decision paralysis or, worse, following misguided advice that takes you further and further away from success. So how can you filter out the noise and figure out what you actually need to do?
Evaluate your advisors
Before following any piece of advice, first look at and consider where it’s come from. You might want to think about:
Relevant experience – Has this person faced similar challenges to yours? Experience in similar fields may be valuable, but context matters enormously. Someone who succeeded in your exact situation five years ago might offer less relevant guidance than someone facing similar challenges today.
Track record – Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, but patterns matter. Look beyond one-off success stories to identify advisors with consistent winning records.
Underlying incentives – Have they got your best interests at heart? What does the advisor gain if you follow their guidance? Financial incentives, ego boosts, or confirmation of their own choices can all skew the advice you receive.
Thinking differently – The most valuable advisors often challenge your thinking rather than simply agreeing with you all the time. Look for advice from people with different backgrounds, thinking styles, and frameworks, and keep an eye out for yes-men.
Watch out for red flags
Even well-intentioned guidance can send you down the wrong path if you’re not paying attention. Watch for anyone offering a one-size-fits-all solution, who hasn’t considered your specific situation.
By the same token, avoid anyone whose thinking is too black-and-white. Most complex problems require nuanced approaches, rather than going in with a sledgehammer! Don’t be taken in by anyone who seems overconfident about what they’re telling you. Certainty about inherently unpredictable outcomes should make you think twice about what you’re being told.
If someone’s giving you advice based on the fact that it worked for them, once upon a time, then be wary. Again – think about track record: you want to see consistent success, not one-off (potential) flukes.
Assembling your A-team
That’s A for Advisor… Instead of taking guidance ad hoc, proactively build a diverse team of trusted advisors. Longtime readers/listeners will know how much importance I place on having a strong network around you, and when times are turbulent you need people around you that you know you can trust. Not sure who should be in your team? Think about:
The industry veteran: Someone who understands the patterns and cycles in your industry/sector.
The critical thinker: A person who challenges your assumptions and spots logical flaws that you may have missed.
The empathetic supporter: Someone who understands your values and personal circumstances and will be in your corner when you need a sympathetic ear.
The expert: A specialist with deep knowledge in areas where you lack expertise – I’ve talked before about shoring up your weaknesses with people who have a different skillset to your own within your industry.
The outside perspective: Someone from a different field who can offer fresh viewpoints – obviously context and relevant experience is important, but they might bring ideas to the table that you hadn’t considered.
Trust your own judgment!
While external input is valuable, ultimately you have to develop confidence in your own decision-making ability. Advice should inform your judgment, not replace it – you have to be accountable for your actions!
- Remember to stress test every piece of advice you get and ask yourself the following questions:
- Does following this advice align with what matters most to you?
- What happens if this advice is completely wrong?
- What evidence or examples suggest this approach might work?
Whatever you do, don’t rush into anything – sleep on any major decisions and make sure you’re looking at the situation rationally, not emotionally.
When good advice feels wrong
Sometimes the most valuable guidance is the most uncomfortable to hear. You might ask someone for help, but don’t like their answers, but before dismissing advice that challenges you, ask yourself why you’re rejecting it. Are you resisting because the advice is wrong, or because it’s difficult? Does it threaten your self image?
Think about what advice you would give to someone if they were in a similar situation – would it match what you’re hearing, or would it be completely different. Remember to leave your ego at the door and make sure you’re not getting in your own way.
In turbulent times, quality advice can show you paths forward that you’d never see by going it alone. But the wrong guidance can completely hamstring you just when you’re most vulnerable. Really consider whose advice you decide to take—filter it for relevant experience, aligned values, and diverse perspectives— so you can turn the overwhelming noise of opinions into a strategic advantage.
Remember, the best advisors don’t tell you what to do; they help you clarify your thinking so you can make better decisions yourself and remain both accountable and in control.