Wise leaders do not decide alone—they seek counsel from advisors, elders, and trusted others who bring knowledge, experience, or perspective the leader lacks. Seeking counsel is strength, not weakness. It shows humility (recognizing you do not know everything), wisdom (understanding that better decisions come from multiple inputs), and good judgment (identifying whose advice is worth seeking). Cultivate advisors whose counsel you value; build relationships that enable honest advice.
Receiving counsel requires actual openness—listening genuinely, considering seriously, being willing to change your view. But counsel informs decision; it does not replace your responsibility. You seek advice, weigh it, decide, and then own the decision.
The counselor advises; the leader decides and bears responsibility. Do not use consultation to avoid decision; do not decide important matters without consultation.
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