August 16 2021
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Advice is a powerful form of feedback, when it is asked for. When asking for the opinions of employees and management on how best to improve something, is the feedback you receive helpful or is more like criticism? Influence expert and psychology professor, Robert Cialdini, has a powerful recommendation. Having spent several decades on the science of persuasion, to ascertain what leads people to say yes, ask for advice.
On CNBC, Jade Scipioni interviewed Cialdini, where he offered, "When you ask for someone's opinion, you get a critic." His research shows that when you ask for opinions, there is a psychological impact, mentally prompting the person to "step back from you." However, when asking for their advice, "they take a step towards you."
Language shapes culture, so the words used are important. Try this small change in vernacular the next time you are seeking involvement or ownership in efforts to improve both performance and culture.
"If it's free, it's advice; if you pay for it, it's counseling; if you can use either one, it's a miracle." — Jack Adams
Shawn M. Galloway is the CEO of ProAct Safety and an advisor to leading organizations across all major industries. With over twenty years of experience in safety systems, strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement, he is a trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness.
He is the author of several bestselling books and has multiple regular columns in leading magazines, with over 400 articles and 100 videos to his credit. He also created the first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence, with over 800 episodes. Shawn has received numerous prestigious accolades and has been featured in Power 101 Leaders of the EHS World, Top 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, Top 40 Rising Stars, Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers, and Top 10 Speakers.
He serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and the Fast Company Executive Board. He has appeared as a guest on Bloomberg, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and leading safety magazines and podcasts, reinforcing his status as an authority in the field of safety excellence.
For more information, call +1.936.273.8700 or email info@ProActSafety.com.
