Why give advice for free?

March 5, 2010

Just responded to a PR person’s rant about being asked to give free advice–and her resentment of people who want to ”pick her brain.”

I’m not crazy about being asked to work for free…but certainly there are ways to say “no.”   Such as… I wish I could, but I’m not in a position to work for free; or “I’m swamped”  or “I’m off the clock, just now.”

My colleague Ted responds to just about anyone who asks for help; as he says,   ”We’re in business to make friends.” 

  Having spent too much time out of work, I know how much it means to have someone offer a helping hand–and will respond, when I can, to almost anyone who is looking for a job.

Likewise–I try to find time to help students or recent grads who need a little career guidance or connections to people who can help provide insight or work.

You never know where things will lead.

 Just last night, someone to whom I’d given a bit of free advice recommended me for a consulting gig with an entrepreneur.

On Monday, I’ll be having a phone conversation with the entrepreneur, even though he told me up front he doesn’t think he can afford me and doesn’t want to waste my time.  But  I’m  interested learning about  his startup and if I can’t afford to take on the work,  I might know someone who can.   I do believe that “what goes around comes around”.

Still,   I have to admit that after being asked too often to explain  social media and its uses, I’m a bit fed up.  So I’ve decided to post some blogs that will allow me to both beg off such inquiries and publicize my  knowledge and skills. 

 And who knows? Maybe this post–which has offered some ideas (I hope!) for free – will help to do the same!

—Anita M. Harris

HarrisCom Blog is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA. We also publish New Cambridge Observer and Ithaca Diaries blogs.

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Difficult conversation? Don’t talk; first listen.

July 28, 2009

    Your client doesn't pay. An employee's work is not up to snuff. A co-worker's habits drive you crazy. You've got to do something about something...and you keep putting it off rather than bring up a difficult subject.  What's the best way to broach a conversation you'd rather not have?
    It's not so much by figuring out what to say, says Deborah Goldstein, managing director of the Triad Consulting Group, of Cambridge, MA. What's most important is figuring out how to listen.
    Most people believe they are right and want others to agree with them, Goldstein said at a recent meeting of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Boston Chapter. This was clearly evidenced when most people insisted they had accurately counted passes of a basketball in a video she showed. But it turned out that many of them counted wrong...and had been so focused on the task that they (and I!) missed seeing a gorilla step into the scene and beat his chest for attention. (I was pleased to have counted right, at least!)
    Because we face information overload and can be very task oriented, Goldstein said, it's important  to understand before going in to a difficult conversation that (a) you could be wrong  (b) the other person could see things that you do not.Hence, the best way to make your case is to NOT to make your case. Rather, ask questions to make sure you understand where the other person is coming from, thus validating his or her point of view--and starting a "give and take" that allows you to listen to one another.By asking questions and bringing the group into her presentation, Goldstein convinced me that her method works. But I'm still dreading the conversation I need to have with a difficult client!
    ---  Anita M. Harris
    HarrisComBlog is a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA. HarrisCom Also publishes the New Cambridge Observer. You're welcome to link or comment, but all contents are copyrighted by Anita M. Harris, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

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Welcome!

July 16, 2009

Butterfly1b-webHi–and welcome to  HarrisCom.blog, a publication of the Harris Communications Group of Cambridge, MA. 

 We’ll be covering and commenting  on issues relating to the traditional and new media, public relations, social media,  health care life sciences, and our clients.   We welcome links, pingbacks, comments and suggestions. Our materials are copyrighted, so if you’d like to use them, please email us for permission.

Thanks for stopping by!

 Anita M. Harris, President

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