Two advisors, two priorities
Every role has two advisors. They are not neutral. Each one cares about two or so of your four meters and always recommends the option that gives those meters the biggest total gain. A CFO backs money. A head of people backs the team. A village elder backs the land and the family. Knowing what they care about is the key to using them well.
When they agree
If both advisors recommend the same option, it usually helps at least one meter from each of their groups. That is a good sign. It does not guarantee it is perfect, but it tends to be a balanced choice.
When they disagree
This is where the game happens. Ask yourself which of the two groups of meters you can least afford to lose today. If one advisor’s meters are already low, listen to them. If both are fine, look at the meters neither advisor mentions, because those are the ones most likely to slip while you are not looking.
The blind spot
Because each advisor covers only part of the picture, there is almost always one meter that nobody is speaking for. In the CEO role, for example, the two advisors care about Profit and Team, which leaves Reputation and Ideas unrepresented. The days that go wrong are often the ones where you followed good advice and forgot the unguarded meter.
Use the end-of-day comments
After the last decision, each advisor comments on how the meters they care about ended up. A red comment means those meters finished low, an amber one means middling and a green one means strong. It is a quick way to see what you protected and what you neglected, and what to try next time.
A good rule of thumb
- Never follow an advisor on a meter that is already high.
- Always listen to an advisor whose meter is below 35.
- Check the “unguarded” meter before you click.
- If both advisors are unhappy, you probably chose a safe middle option that helps nobody. Try something bolder next time.
The same idea works in real work. The people around you will usually advise from where they sit, and good decisions often depend on listening to everyone and noticing who is missing from the room.