Tiffany White, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Bruce and Anne Strohm Faculty Fellow Author Tyler Tervooren cites research by professor Tiffany White in his article about giving advice in such a way the recipient takes it to heart.

This underscores the importance of starting on the right foot. If you upset the person you're trying to help, they'll wall themselves off. Even if you work like crazy to bring them back, it might not work. At this point, you're screwed. This was studied further in a project by Tiffany White at the University of Illinois. She researched how people respond to advice in highly emotional states. Instead of doctors and patients, she looked at financial decisions between clients and advisors.