Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?

One of the best lessons I learned in my decades working inside corporations was this one. I remember the day when a very wise colleague asked me that question. I had hit the wall of frustration with a boss that we shared at the time. My list of reasons why he shouldn’t be in his role was long and impressive: not qualified, not committed, not connected, not especially smart, out of touch. As I self-righteously proclaimed my case, she smiled and agreed with me. Because sadly, I wasn’t wrong.

And then she told me that I had a choice. The choice was this: “do you want to be right or do you want to be happy? In this situation, you can’t have both. You have to choose. You can be happy in this role. You are smart, talented, committed. You can contribute and add value in spite of the fact that 95 out of 100 people would agree that this boss is a dope. Choosing happiness means letting go of your self-righteous attitude and working with what you have.” In that moment, it meant accepting the reality that I had taken a role reporting to an unqualified leader, at this point in time, in this organizational structure.  

She counseled that if the condition was at a level of dysfunction where it was damaging to my health, then my number one obligation was to myself and I should leave. If it wasn’t quite that bad, she invited me to consider how I felt about the organization.  Was I excited about the business? Did I enjoy my work and business partners?  Was I learning? Was I adding value?  If the answer was yes to these questions, then my challenge was to figure out a way to add value, demonstrate my worth, support my partners, and build my expertise. And not let him get in my way.

If you find yourself if a similar situation, I encourage you to consider what matters most to you. And if you decide to stay, remember to be appropriately respectful, keep your bridges intact and understand the power of one. One person can make a difference and that person is you. And even if you are subordinate in structure to the corporate equivalent of Foghorn Leghorn, you can differentiate yourself and your work. Choose to be effective. Choose to make a difference to your customers. Choose to operate with quality, discipline and focus. Choose to be happy. Let go of being right. Happiness is better for your health.