Transactional Analysis in Coaching, Communication and Leadership
Growing up in a family of psychologists, and working in Communications for 20 years, I’ve always tuned in to how people communicate and relate to one another. Not only when things go well, but what’s at play when communication and relationships break down - and what that looks like in a professional context.
There are many models, tools and programmes available to help people communicate more effectively; but one that really stands out, and 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; but in essence, TA suggests that all human interactions, or “transactions,” are influenced by these ego states. When we communicate with others, we are engaging in a transaction, and the way we do so - whether it’s from the Parent, Adult, or Child state - can determine how effective and productive the exchange will be.
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 - I’d love to help.