Frustrated when friends and family don’t heed your wise words even though you know it will save them time, money and aggravation? The problem may be the way you’re delivering your advice. According to a new study in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, most folks tune out when you offer your opinion for or against a particular option because they feel like you’re making the decision for them. Yet, they’re all ears when you provide information about aspects of their options they may not have known about—for instance, that an appliance they’re considering purchasing is on sale at a nearby store or that a friend had a bad experience with a mechanic they were thinking of taking their car to. By sharing new facts, others still feel like they’re in control of making their decision, plus the extra information you give them makes them more confident about their choice.
[photo: laughlin]
