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The Greatness Machine

401 | Donna Zajonc | The Power of TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic)

The Greatness Machine

Darius Mirshahzadeh

Education, Entrepreneurship, Business

5.0135 Ratings

🗓️ 1 January 2026

⏱️ 60 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ever find yourself stuck in drama, reacting before you think, or feeling powerless in situations you care about?  In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Donna Zajonc dives deep into the Drama Triangle and its positive alternative, The Empowerment Dynamic (TED). She and Darius explore how cultivating awareness, clarifying intention, and practicing self-compassion can turn automatic reactivity into conscious leadership and personal growth. Donna shares practical strategies for recognizing when we fall into victim, persecutor, or rescuer roles, and how to shift into creator, challenger, or coach roles that empower both ourselves and others. Whether in family life, friendships, or at work, these tools offer a roadmap to more meaningful, effective, and empowered interactions. In this episode, Darius and Donna will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to the Empowerment Dynamic (02:35) Donna Zajonc's Journey and Background (05:34) The Drama Triangle Explained (08:26) The Empowerment Dynamic Framework (11:23) Understanding the Roles in the Drama Triangle (14:15) Shifting from Drama to Empowerment (16:50) The Importance of Awareness and Choice (19:59) Leadership and the Empowerment Dynamic (22:39) Challenging vs. Persecuting Roles (27:29) The Power of Words and Personal Growth (29:12) Understanding the Drama Triangle (31:07) Shifting from Persecutor to Challenger (33:06) The Role of Intention in Communication (34:54) Curiosity as a Tool for Growth (37:00) Navigating the Rescuer Role (38:53) Empowerment Dynamics in Leadership (40:57) The Importance of Self-Compassion (42:50) Tools for Personal and Professional Growth (44:37) Creating a Culture of Empowerment Donna Zajonc, MCC, is the Director of Coaching at the Center for The Empowerment Dynamic, where she designs and facilitates coaching programs based on the TED* framework (The Empowerment Dynamic). A Master Certified Coach since 2013 and recipient of Washington State’s Excellence in Coaching Award in 2017, Donna has been dedicated to professional coaching since 2001. Alongside her business partner David Emerald, she helps coaches and leaders move from the Drama Triangle to the empowering roles of Creator, Challenger, and Coach. Donna lives in the Pacific Northwest, enjoying beach walks, good books, dark chocolate, microbrews, and time with her children and grandchildren. Connect with Donna: Website: https://theempowermentdynamic.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-zajonc-mcc-612455/  Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Where do you find a clear signal in a world of static?

0:03.2

In a time of rapid change cut through the noise, the economist goes beyond the headlines

0:08.3

to decode the forces shaping today and defining tomorrow.

0:12.7

Get the full story.

0:14.1

It's more than news.

0:15.4

It's a trusted global perspective.

0:17.7

The economist know which way is up.

0:20.7

I'm a gang. Welcome to The Greatness Machine. I'm your host, Darius from Shazday. I'm so pumped to have you here with me. Now, listen, the Greatness Machine were about two things. Number one, people were living their passions. And number two, those who are creating greatness in the world and doing both of these things despite the odds against them. In each episode, we're going to feature interviews with game chang with game changers, business leaders, telling us their origin stories, what made them tick, what got them to where they are now. Why? So it can help you step into your greatness within your life, your business, and your career. Occasionally, you might hear a few solo episodes for myself, as I say, as I leverage my 20 years of entrepreneurship as a

0:54.7

CEO and founder to help you grow and level up in your journey to scale your life and your

0:59.1

business. So, come be a fly on the wall, enjoy the conversation, and I'm stoked to have you

1:03.7

hear of me.

1:06.5

Guys, welcome to this episode of The Greatness, Michelle, DeRos, Darrys from Ashazi.

1:09.3

And boy, do we have a special guest. Donna Zeyjan is in the house.

1:11.9

What's up, Donna?

1:12.5

Hey, Darius, great to be here. Great to have you here. I'm so excited to have you here to be a part of the show. So audience members, for those of you guys that are not familiar with Donna, I'm going to take a step back. You guys all know that I did Stagan, gosh, six years ago, even before the show started.

1:30.6

This shows were on our fifth year. I'm going to take a step back. You guys all know that I did Stagan, gosh, six years ago, even before the show started.

1:30.5

The show was on our fifth year of the show.

1:33.3

Past guest, former guests of the show, as you guys all know, is my mentor and friend, Rand Stagin.

1:38.5

And part of the Stagan ILP program, the Integral Leadership Program, is there's a book,

1:43.4

a really special book we had to

1:44.5

read called The Power of Ted, which stands for the Empowerment Dynamic by David Emerald.

1:50.0

And, you know, our team was reaching out to the organization that he works with, himself

...

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