One of the key elements to understanding family systems is emotional triangles. Any three persons or issues may form an emotional triangle. A typical business triangle might involve a superior and two of his subordinates. Another example of a business triangle might be a superior, one of his subordinates, and a corporate goal. In trying to force the employee to accept a goal, the superior is effectively creating a triangle.
Several laws explain the workings of emotional triangles.
First, the third person in a triangle typically provides stability for the relationship between the other two. In the above example, the superior is stabilizing the relationship between his employee and the goal. Second, the third person in a triangle cannot directly change the relationship between the other two people. One can only change a relationship he is a part of. In the above example, the superior will not be able to directly harmonize the relationship between his employee and his goal.