---
title: "The Drama Triangle"
description: "A structured way to surface everything in a group so solutions come easily."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/the-great-ceo-within/the-drama-triangle/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# The Drama Triangle

> A structured way to surface everything in a group so solutions come easily.

Matt Mochary's framework, from The Great CEO Within, pp. 20 to 30.

Framework 7 of 15 from [The Great CEO Within](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/the-great-ceo-within/index.md) by Matt Mochary. Category: Leadership.

## The steps

1. **Hero.** Each person says how they temporarily solve the situation.
2. **Victim.** They say how they are negatively affected and why they are powerless to fix it permanently.
3. **Villain.** They name a real person they blame and the real action, including themselves, until no one is left to blame.
4. **Ask for willingness.** 'Are you willing for this issue to easefully and playfully be settled in this meeting?' Then brainstorm.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Chapter 14: Conflict Resolution, pp. 20–30

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-great-ceo-within/the-drama-triangle.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-great-ceo-within/the-drama-triangle-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-great-ceo-within/the-drama-triangle.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-great-ceo-within/the-drama-triangle-dark.png