Should you seek feedback or advise?

Conventional wisdom often advises seeking feedback from colleagues to improve performance. However, research indicates that feedback, often vague and sometimes even detrimental, may not effectively enhance our capabilities. Instead, recent studies propose a more beneficial approach: requesting advice rather than feedback.

In a series of experiments, including one conducted in an executive education setting, we discovered that soliciting advice consistently yielded more effective input than seeking feedback. For instance, when 200 individuals were asked to evaluate a peer's job application letter, those prompted for feedback tended to offer generic, positive remarks. Conversely, those asked for advice provided more critical and actionable suggestions for improvement.