Establishing a Hierarchy

The Mature King organizes his realm by who can actually do the job. He puts capable people where their abilities do the most good. The result is a structure where skill gets noticed, developed, and put to work. This isn't about pecking order for its own sake—it's about matching the right person to the right seat.

The Tyrant creates hierarchies based on loyalty and flattery rather than competence. He promotes those who serve his ego and punishes those who threaten him. The Victim allows incompetence to flourish because he fears hard decisions. The Mature King maintains a hierarchy of competence that serves the realm.

Establishing this hierarchy requires six elements:

Clear assessment: The King sees who can actually deliver. He looks past impressive resumes and smooth talkers to find the people who get real results.

Clear standards: The King sets criteria for different roles and levels. People know what's expected and how they'll be evaluated.

Development pathways: The King creates ways for people to grow in competence and advance. He invests in training and mentorship.

Honest feedback: The King gives people clear information about their performance and what they need to improve.

Hard decisions: The King moves people out of roles they can't handle, even when it's uncomfortable. He puts the realm's needs ahead of personal relationships.

Recognition of expertise: The King defers to those with greater expertise in their domains. He doesn't let his position override their specialized knowledge.

This kind of hierarchy stays alive. People move up as they get better at what they do. They move aside when the role outgrows them. The whole point is making the realm work well, not protecting anyone's ego or locking in someone's title.

The King who organizes by competence builds a place where doing good work actually matters, coasting gets called out, and people keep getting better because the system expects it of them.