What if the real significance of people asking for advice, or counsel, recommendations, or feedback, or perspective, is not in finding a solution or answer to a problem, or in the learning that can occur, or in the value of the advice given more generally?
Sure, we can seek new ideas and novel perspectives from others. We can learn and grow from others.
But, what if advice seeking became embraced as a primary advancement activity? For example:
What if we recognized that asking others for advice also encourages them to trust us more?
What if we recognized that asking others for their perspective also helps them create their own stories that support our mission?
What if we recognized that asking others for feedback also gives them a shared responsibility for our institution’s success?
Asking for advice can feel hard, awkward, or even negative. “I don’t want to open the door to complaints and critique,” can be our thinking.
In fact, too many administrators, including advancement administrators, have never asked others for advice in any systemic way. Too many fear the idea of posing the question, “what do you think?”
But, that’s because we are focused on the content or the messages of the advice or the feedback. We are worried that the advice will end up meaning more work for us.
When we take the time to frame thoughtful advice seeking questions, though, we can confidently embrace the real advancement meta-value of this strategy as trust-building, personal story creating, and sharing with others the responsibility for making progress and success happen.
Advice seeking isn’t about gathering ideas. Advice seeking is about deepening relationships.
Think about the board members, the advisory council members, the major gift donors, and other key volunteers who could be re-engaged and re-energized if we simply practiced the following as a key advancement strategy:
We will consistently seek advice on important topics from our donors and volunteer leaders not because their insights will reshape the way we work, but because our asking will reshape the way they engage.
