"Victory is won through many advisors..."

I came across a reference to a verse from Proverbs 11:14, which states, "For a lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisors.  I don't know the context of this particular statement, but I do know that the Book of Proverbs in the Bible is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon, who was known to be very wise.  I think this particular proverb makes two important points for leadership.

First, without wise guidance, an organization is like a ship without a helm or a car without a steering wheel.  An organization that operates without a strategy will operate aimlessly and ultimately fail.  Organizations need a mission, vision, and set of core values.  Based on that mission and vision, they develop a set of goals that will help the organization to achieve that mission and vision.  The core values provides the guardrails for how they get there.  The strategy outlines the steps needed to achieve those goals.  Without a clear strategy, the people within the organization will lack clear goals and priorities.  Time, money, and effort will get wasted.  And the organization will be slow to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

The second half of this proverb suggests that having many advisors provides safety, security, and success.  We know that there is strength in diversity of opinions (see also my post "Chemistry Magic", "Napoleon's Corporal", and "Going to Abilene").  Leaders need to have a "team" of trusted advisors that they can rely upon for guidance and counsel.  Importantly, this team needs to be comprised of people with different interests (perhaps even competing interests) and a diversity of opinion.  I am reminded of President Abraham Lincoln, who put together a "team of rivals" (see Doris Kearns Goodwin's superb book by the same name, as well as my posts, "Rivals" and "In the tent...").  It's just as important that the leader actually listens and considers these different opinions, as President Lincoln absolutely did throughout his presidency.  

King Solomon was very wise.  An organization needs a strategy.  And the leader of that organization needs a team of trusted advisors.  The result is victory (or in this context, success of the organization).