Getting advice from others can provide valuable insights and perspective when we are struggling to achieve our goals, but it turns out giving advice can be beneficial as well. The key factor is motivation. Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted a study with 2,000 high schoolers and explains that most people understand what they need to do to achieve their goals but fall short in turning their plans into action. It turns out that giving advice can actually provide the incentive and personal initiative required to achieve their dreams.
This research provides important insights into how teachers, counselors, and parents approach motivating their pupils. If giving advice is as beneficial as receiving it, concepts such as peer mentorship and other collaborative goal-seeking could be crucial for helping students excel.
