Is It Always Right to Be Right? : A Tale of Transforming Workplace Conflict into Creativity and Collaboration

There once was an organization where the prevailing attitude was "I am right and you are wrong." Everywhere, groups were at odds: women versus men, management versus employees, line versus staff departments. In this land of "us versus them," discussion was sparse and compromise was unthinkable. After all, each group was right, of course, and they knew it!

In this delightful parable (in the spirit of A Peacock in the Land of Penguins and Pigeonholed in the Land of Penguins), Hateley, Schmidt, and Weiss collaborate again to create witty narration and wry illustrations that make a critical point. When conflict paralyzes the company, a gentle sound rises above the din. "Uhhmm," this voice says, "maybe I was mistaken." To which another voice responds, "Perhaps you were right." The ensuing dialogue leads to mutually beneficial solutions.

This inspiring tale about defeating divisiveness in the workplace demonstrates how conflict can be a positive force for change when managed correctly. Readers find tips and models to help apply what they've learned to real-life situations.