Do you want to vent, or get my advice?

Sometimes you just have to share your frustration, disappointment, or dissatisfaction with someone. If you happen to be that someone, how do you best react?

Depending on how you are wired, you may take it as a call for advice and throw all your ideas and potential solutions on your conversation partner. I must admit that I am guilty of that, given my personal style and solution-orientation. Yet, I have learnt to manage my passion for coaching and consulting others by checking what the actual request is.

👆 Do you want to vent, or get my advice? Should I just listen with empathy so that you can get it off your chest, or do you want me to dig deeper and come up with solutions?

Sometimes all that it takes is

👂 to listen

🤗 a hug

💕 being compassionate