- Be A Guide
There is a very few distinct sect of personality types that desire all the answers to their life’s problems solved for them with direct and explicit advice.
Friends will be much more susceptible to conversation where you are tentative. This is where you repeat back what you think they are trying to convey, without assuming you have the answer.
Saying things like, “I could be wrong, but it seems to me….”; “It sounds like…”; “Maybe you are feeling…”, give support without being pushy, reports Psychology Today.
Guiding a friend through their trials with a relatable story of your own conflicts can reveal insights they may have not thought of.