They can give you advice. They can try to evoke the answers out of you, help you see the light for yourself. They can coach you to clarity.

But if you want to get to what your advisor is really thinking — behind being polite, trusting, and politically correct, just ask them this, a tad emphatically:

What would you do if you were me?

Mentor dude or BFF can wax strategic for hours, but when you pull this question out, something shifts. Advice becomes more… transparent, more pointed.

The “What would you do if you were me” kind of advice doesn’t make it any more wise, nor does it obligate you more to follow it (you should always, ultimately, most definitely follow your own hunch.) But this straight up subjectivity just might cut through any coddling that you’d be better off with out.

What would you do if you were me?

If you’re in a bit of a rush to get where you’re going, this might kick the conversation into high gear.