day 690: Before Giving Advice

"What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!"

Think with me for a moment about the number of companies and people who make a living from giving advice that we listen to and influence our business and life decisions. I can list a number of those quickly; consultants, analysts, professional services, attorneys, money managers, authors, etc. We take advice in all day long and within our companies we are expected to give advice to others whether they be customers, partners, vendors, or co-workers. Advice is part of what makes business go round. However, in order to give good and sound advice we must know what we are are talking about and be committed to getting to the truth. To give the best advice, we must do the hard work to get to and represent what are the facts. That means a lot of digging, evaluating, and listening. Too many times we read or hear of companies that find themselves in a jam because they never got to the facts and instead gave poor or misguided advice and assurances. This can be a real problem and with one or more of these, then a companies credibility can be damaged beyond repair. If we are leading any part of an organization that gives advice, then we need to do the hard work and listen for the facts and then only provide our advice based on the truth, on the facts.

God calls on us to be ones that others can count on as people of truth. The fact is that if we don't represent the truth and facts that we are misrepresenting the One who we follow. Let's never find ourselves in a situation where we are giving advice or counsel that is not based on the facts. Solomon says that is it beyond shameful, that is is "folly", or foolishness to do so. God doesn't need any of us to look like we are not established and grounded in the truth and facts. Today, don't take the shortcut or cut the corner. Go spend the extra time and listen and find the facts before providing that advice or speaking out.

Reference: Proverbs 19:13 (New Living Testament)