There's going to be some uncomfortable, awkward moments any time you're physically holding a stranger. That's just human nature. You didn't do anything wrong.

I took a few solo airplane flights last year and quite a few people helped me make it to the next gate for a connecting flight or helped me out of the airport to find my waiting family members. Most of the people helping me were other passengers, not airport or airline employees.

What worked best was just talking. "Where are you flying to? What made you decide to go there?" That kind of thing. When we're already having a friendly conversation it seems really natural to hear "We're going to turn right right here" or "Let's slow down for a minute, there's a woman pushing a baby stroller ahead of us." They're steering me but the fact we're having a chat makes us feel like equals, not two people in a power imbalance.

I hope this helps answer your question. You're welcome to follow up if you want to know something more specific.

In my mind, if I'm using my cane or dog, I'm more or less in in charge. If someone is with me, they can offer directions or warnings, but I'm the one guiding myself. If I'm holding someone's elbow, they're the guide. My cane is either not in use, or protecting the side of me away from the guide, or my dog is walking beside me with the harness not in use. In this case, I follow the guide unless I know for sure they are going the wrong way or about to walk me into something. If I have a guide, it's on them to, well, guide. It's not about autonomy, it's about which of us knows best where we're going and how to get there.

My point is that if you're guiding someone, your job is to help that person get where they're going safely. If they know the area so well that they have a specific route, do they really need a guide?I don't request a sighted guide unless I need one, and if I need one, I'm going to trust them over my own thoughts on precisely how to get somewhere. That's what the guide is for.

This is just me, though. Not everyone thinks this way, or would respond the same way to a guide's input. Really, the best option is to have a quick conversation with your client. Just mention that there's a more efficient or safe route to the store, and you'd be happy to show it to them if they want you to. You should also check in with them regarding how much help they want you to provide while walking outside. Once you have that baseline, just monitor them for how they react to the additional help you offer. If they seem annoyed or don't want to follow your directions, you'll know to offer less.

Thanks for volunteering in this way. I hope you and your client can figure this out, and that doing so makes you more comfortable knowing how much to do and not do for others in the future. Being a guide can get pretty awkward and stressful for all involved, so good on you for continuing to do it.

Google Human Guide. There’s certain ways that they should be holding you and how you should engage/disengage. Also it’s totally fine to give them information about the environment but don’t inundate them with everything you see. Just say things like “we’re approaching a…”(doorway, stairs, etc.)

Thank you all! This was extremely helpful. It sounds like I just need to be more communicative when I work with my client. And it sounds like I should clarify expectations with them.

Generally if you were to suggest an alternative route I would say I would be opened to it. But suggest and that’s about it. But telling someone they are wrong or correcting or criticisms would be more met with resistance I think especially from me. I am naturally a pretty connective or friendly person so it’s probably easier to suggest something.