Gathering Counsel

The Mature King knows he doesn't have all the answers. Nobody does. His view of the world runs through his own experience and his own blind spots. If he wants to make good decisions, he needs people around him who see the things he misses.

The Tyrant refuses counsel. He's convinced he already knows everything worth knowing. Asking for advice feels like admitting a flaw, so he fills his circle with people who just nod along. The Victim asks everyone's opinion all the time because he can't stomach making a call on his own. He hides behind "gathering input" to dodge the weight of deciding. The Mature King listens carefully, then makes his decision and owns whatever comes next.

The King builds a council of trusted advisors who bring different gifts:

The Elder: Someone older and wiser who has walked the path before. They bring experience and hard-won wisdom.

The Peer: Someone at a similar stage who knows our challenges. They bring solidarity and fresh ideas.

The Challenger: Someone who will question our assumptions and push back. They help us see blind spots.

The Heart: Someone who feels deeply and reminds us of the human impact. They bring compassion and ethical grounding.

How to gather counsel well:

Ask good questions: Don't ask "What do we think?" Ask: "What am I not seeing?" "What could go wrong?" "What would you do?"

Listen to learn: When someone offers counsel, listen. Don't defend our position.

Seek diverse perspectives: Get different viewpoints, especially from those affected by our decisions.

Decide and own it: After you've heard everyone out, make the call. If it goes sideways, that's on you, not your advisors. They gave you input. You made the choice.

The strongest Kings are the ones humble enough to admit they need help seeing the whole picture.