Comments on: Are You Being A Zax

By: Pattie Porter

Pattie Porter — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:06:42 +0000

Hi! Jill and Candy,

How right on target you both are…just had a conversation where being right was so important to this person, s/he has placed so much negative energy into the situation that she is very unhappy. The problem becomes one of letting go of when we feel like we have been wronged, and responding in such a way that it is destructive to one’s health and relationships. To Candy’s question, what if you really, really want to be right? Things to consider, can you still be right without the other person’s acknowledgment? Does the other person’s lack of acknowledgment stand in your way of moving forward? Is it possible that the situation is not as black and white as we make it to be, and that there really is degrees of “rightness?” Hmmmm.

By: Candy Beauchamp

Candy Beauchamp — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:31:58 +0000

But what if I really really want to be right? *laugh*

It is an important lesson and one I use every day, not only in business (of course) but my kids. Sometimes you truly do have to pick your battles!

By: Jill Sarah Moscowitz

Jill Sarah Moscowitz — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:05:32 +0000

Brings to mind one of my favorite sayings “Do you want to be ‘right’? or Do you want to be happy?” Most of us are looking for things like productivity and job satisfaction … so fixating on “right” often times excludes being “happy” ….

By: Pattie Porter

Pattie Porter — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:35:16 +0000

Thank you Anita, Lori and Kevin for taking the time to read the new blog entry and make comments. This story of the Zax has certainly rang a bell for folks, and not just in leadership. So, what would happen if you broke that long standing rule you learned? Sometimes, it is not a rule at all but a value we hold dearly. All the huffing and puffing one might do when a rule is broken might be something more meaningful if we stop long enough to ask.

By: Anita Santiago

Anita Santiago — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:49:28 +0000

This is a great leadership lesson. It can also be applied to the team environment. So many times, innovation, cost savings and process improvements are derailed because of this type of behavior. No matter what the work environment, we all need to make sure we’re more flexible and open-minded.

By: Lori Goldsmith

Lori Goldsmith — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:31:03 +0000

Great lesson for our (leaders?) in Washington, too. The UN is learning the story of Zax. They invited BSG there to learn reconciliation.

We must all come to the table with “tamed” hearts.

By: Kevin W. Grossman

Kevin W. Grossman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:51:02 +0000

Agreed. Leaders must be able to lead collaboratively to facilitate employee engagement, retention and company development and growth. Leading dictatorially and going it alone could lead you right out of a job and kill your company.