EP031_EN_Atena - how to be good advisors

"881 Athene" is a small main-belt asteroid discovered in 1917.In mythology, Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategy, and justice, born fully grown and armed from the head of Zeus. She is a symbol of rational intelligence and protection, an emblem of knowledge and wise counsel.Giving advice, precisely because it must be wise, requires a set of skills, attentiveness, and moral qualities without which it is difficult to achieve the intended purpose.In particular, the ability to give advice has a deeply ethical meaning, because it concerns not only what we say to others, but above all how we position ourselves in relation to freedom, responsibility, and the well-being of others.From an ethical standpoint, advising means maintaining a balance between the desire to help and respect for the other person’s autonomy.It entails the ability to listen and to deeply understand the situation, the context, and the perspectives of the person in front of us.It requires prudence, considering the risk of misunderstanding some aspects of the situation we are facing.Finally, it presupposes an attitude of benevolence, as it implies not wanting to manipulate others, but rather genuinely caring about the outcome for the person being advised.Advising is an art that, when handled well, strengthens relationships, but it is also a double-edged sword, carrying the risk of damaging them.