Mind Matters: Ask for help to make an informed choice

My friend sent out an SOS -on social media – as you would expect, to all his friends.

After making sure that the person in question was indeed seriously soliciting advice (people have a habit of randomly shopping for free advice) I reached out to the experts I knew and whose judgment could be trusted. The feedback was conveyed, and the person was able to make an informed choice.

We all find ourselves in this kind of a situation once in a while, when we are totally confused and at a complete loss to take a decision (what course to take, which job to go for etc). The best way to get over this is not by continuing to muddle over the problem and moping, but to go out and ask the right people.

Now asking for advice is not easy for some folks because they feel it is an admission of ignorance and they worry how they will come across and the image that they will convey to others.

One should understand that everyone doesn’t know everything about everything. There are experts in every field who given their years of experience are in a position to offer guidance.

The experts more often than not feel honoured that their judgment and opinion is being sought and are willing to help. Even if you do not have direct access to such an expert you could search your contacts list to see who could give you an intro or facilitate this for you.

A similar situation could arise in a classroom as well. If a professor is explaining some complex theories and pauses to ask if his class has followed what was being said students  are reluctant to raise their hands if they haven’t.

The teacher usually appreciates a response  even in the negative because what is the point of his teaching a concept if it has gone over the heads ofhis students?.

Let’s say you are interviewing someone or are in a serious work – related phone conversation and you didn’t catch parts of it. Do not hesitate to ask the person to repeat or clarify what was said. If you don’t do that you are likely to be playing a guessing game and may even get it all wrong.

Even if you are dispatched on a shopping errand by your mum and are not sure which brand or what quantities of a product, she wanted or what strength of a tablet she usually takes just   double check.

Remember as someone once said “When in doubt ask “Your decision is more likely to be sound.