Aslak de Silva, CEO of Selfly Store, works with customers in 20+ countries generating revenue with data and intelligent vending machines.
“It’s strange,” my friend said. “So many people ask for advice, and then never follow the guidance.”
That comment stuck with me. We were talking about leadership, coaching and growth. And what he said echoed something I’ve witnessed again and again.
It’s not that people aren’t coachable. In fact, many are great at appearing open. They nod. They ask questions. They even compliment the ideas. But then … nothing happens.
No action. No behavior shift. No traction. The coach leaves feeling helpful. The coachee feels inspired. But when there’s no follow-through, it’s all just noise.
Coachability Is No Longer Enough
In today’s business world, full of mentorship programs, executive coaches, webinars and masterminds, being coachable has become a celebrated leadership trait. And it is a great starting point.
But coachability alone won’t change your life, your business or your team. Action does. The uncomfortable truth is this: many leaders collect advice the way others collect books, without ever cracking the spine.
We don’t have a shortage of guidance. We have a shortage of implementation.
Introducing GQ: Guidance Intelligence
We talk a lot about IQ and EQ. In a previous article, I introduced mental intelligence (MQ)—your ability to lead yourself. Today, I want to add another dimension: GQ, or Guidance Intelligence.
GQ is your ability to:
• Proactively seek out advice
• Process it with humility and clarity
• And most importantly, act on it with ownership
But GQ goes even deeper. It also includes the ability to make a decision, even if that decision is to not follow the guidance. That’s right. Sometimes the smartest, most mature move is to say:
“Thank you for this input. I’ve thought it through and I’m going to take a different path, because here’s why …”
That’s not stubbornness. That’s leadership. GQ is not blind obedience. It’s thoughtful execution. It’s the skill of turning advice into intentional action, whether that means adopting, adapting or declining with clarity.
GQ In Action And Inaction
Let me share a few moments from my own journey that show what GQ looks like in real life and what happens when it’s missing.
Immediate Action With Discernment
I once met three young entrepreneurs who wanted advice on how to scale their business. We had a focused 45-minute conversation. What happened next surprised me.
They wrote a memo summarizing the discussion. They didn’t just implement the advice—they prioritized it. They picked three ideas that fit their situation best and immediately got to work. I saw them calling prospects I had mentioned the same day.
But what impressed me even more was what they didn’t do. They explained which ideas they were choosing not to implement and gave solid reasoning why. That’s high GQ in action: absorb, decide, execute.
All Talk, No Action
Around 10 years ago, I sparred with a company unhappy with how their traditional marketing was performing. We explored how they could shift toward social media, not just advertising but building real engagement. They were excited. They took notes. But in the end, nothing changed. They never acted.
Today, that company is out of business. Meanwhile, a competitor did exactly what we discussed and now thrives with a loyal, engaged following. That’s what happens when coachability is not backed by GQ.
Saying No For The Right Reasons
At Selfly Store, in our early data development phase, a consultant suggested building AI-driven chatbots to proactively assist customers. The advice was solid, but I knew it was too early. We hadn’t even built version 1.0 yet.
I took it to the team. We discussed it openly and agreed: this was a 3.0 idea. We weren’t there yet. We didn’t dismiss the advice—we deferred it. And later, as our capabilities evolved, we began incorporating similar features into our offering.
This is also GQ: owning the choice not to implement, with full accountability and strategic intent.
How To Build Your Guidance Intelligence
If you want to develop your GQ, start here:
1. Ask For Guidance With Purpose: Don’t wait until you’re stuck
2. Listen With Humility: But don’t blindly follow all advice
3. Decide With Clarity: Choose what to act on and explain (even to yourself) what you’ll decline and why
4. Act Quickly: Momentum matters more than perfection
5. Circle Back: Let your coach, mentor or peer know what you did or didn’t do, and what you learned
Final Thought: Wisdom Is Nothing Without Action
In leadership, it’s easy to collect advice. It’s harder to convert it.
The best leaders don’t just listen. They decide. They act. They own the outcomes. They apply what fits, adapt what doesn’t and always move forward.
That’s Guidance Intelligence. And it might be the most underrated superpower in business today.
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