Transactional Analysis in Coaching, Communication and Leadership
Growing up in a family of psychologists, and working in Communications for over 20 years, I’ve always tuned in to how people communicate and relate to one another ─ especially in the workplace, where we spend so much of our time.
There are many models, tools and programmes available to help people communicate more effectively, but one that I often come back to with clients is Transactional Analysis (TA). As a framework that has gained traction in both coaching and leadership circles, TA provides a powerful lens through which we can better understand our interactions and how to optimise them.
A quick summary of Transactional Analysis
First developed in the 1960s by Dr Eric Berne, TA is a psychological approach based on the idea that our personality is made up of three “ego states:” the Parent (behaviours, thoughts and feelings copied from our parents/parental figures); the Adult (behaviours, thoughts and feelings that are a direct response to the here and now); and the Child (behaviours, thoughts and feelings that are replayed from childhood). When studied deeply, there are multiple aspects to it. In essence, TA suggests that all human interactions (“transactions”) are influenced by ego states.
How TA can be used in coaching
As with other coaching tools, TA helps people recognise and shift their behavioural patterns. Here are a few examples:
A leader who consistently engages from a nurturing “Parent” state can create a safe and supportive environment for their team. On the other hand, when a leader operates from the “Adult” state, they demonstrate rational thinking and problem-solving ─ creating an atmosphere of respect and credibility. Understanding how to balance these states, can help leaders to develop trust and grow their influence.
A client might discover that they’re often responding from their “Child” state when dealing with a certain colleague in their team, and that this often leads to frustration. Once they become aware of this, and what that looks like, sounds like and feels like, they can think about how to shift into their “Adult” state (a state that enables them to engage more thoughtfully) ─ to avoid the usual pattern.
TA can also help in team/group coaching. For instance, it may help a manager to notice that they’re engaging with their team from a “Parent” state ─ adopting a critical or authoritative tone. By enabling the manager to engage with their team from a more collaborative “Adult” state, they may find the exchanges become more productive, respectful, and empowering.
Changing the way we interact with others can be achieved in many ways: through our verbal communication (language, tone) and body language. But ultimately, TA as a coaching tool provides a way to recognise ego states in both ourselves and others, so we can tailor our communication to be more empathetic, effective, and aligned with our goals.
If you’d like to chat more about how coaching could help you communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships at work, please get in touch.