Since my opinions on the Weldon v TV3 Newsroom stoush were published this week I have had an extraordinary amount of feedback from all sorts of different people. Some connected to both sides and others from people looking in from the outside.

Those outside the bubble mostly agreed with it.  Understandably, the people whose lives were turned upside down by the events were upset at the article. A lot of these people I count as, if not friends, then friendly acquaintances and many have been colleagues. Obviously I sympathise with them but they're missing the central theme.

In all businesses an owner appoints a board, who appoint a CEO, who appoints a management team, who employ a staff. The direction of a company flows down from owner to staff. That's just the way it is. If Mark Weldon and his management team decided that a change was needed they need only justify it to the Board and Owner. Weldon's decisions were approved by the guys who have the money.

If CEOs get it wrong they live with the consequences. Unfortunately their staff live with the consequences first. It's unfair if management get it wrong but it is absolutely their right.

I've learnt this through hard yards. I've been laid off 3 times. 2 times the outcome for the company was negative. Once, with hindsight, I see they were bang on to let me go. What I've learned is to keep my trap shut. Move on.

Mark Weldon was hired to take Mediaworks in his preferred direction and the owners agreed on it. It was his right to set revenue and ratings targets even if the staff thought the targets are unfair. If the targets were unfair, so be it. He had the job as the target setter.

If he decided we're going reality not news that would be his right. If he decided to make it 100 per cent advertorial that would also be his right. If that direction was wrong, so be it. He screws up - he gets fired. As long as everything was done in good faith and in accordance with employment law then it's all good even though it may be bad.

This whole saga is a lesson to all business. If you're going to hire a change agent because you've decided change is needed then make sure you pick someone who's likely to get it right. And for staff, you can influence but never determine the direction of your company. If you want to run it then go for the big jobs.

I didn't agree with most of Weldon's changes and the way he implemented them but I will defend his right to make them. I also didn't agree with the vitriol poured on him. Remember. Revenge is always best served cold.