Introducing Transactional Analysis

18/12/2014

I mentored a young woman this week who was struggling with the responses she sometimes receives when working with others in a business partnering capacity. She often feels undervalued or dismissed which then influences how she approaches and what she evokes and encounters in subsequent conversations. As the discussion unfolded, I was struck by her description of how she framed her role and authority alongside that of others in her own mind and how this impacted on her interactions with clients.

I was reminded of Transactional Analysis' (TA) insights into relational dynamics and so introduced some of its basic principles to her. TA definitely struck a chord so I looked online for simple introductory material to point her towards to learn more about it. I have read Harris' I'm OK You're OK and Berne's Games People Play and have just ordered a copy of Stuart & Joines' TA Today. However, I discovered a series of short videos on YouTube by Theramin Trees that were perfect. I've posted the links below for anyone else who may be interested.

TA1 - Ego States and Basic Transactions
TA2 - Games
TA3 - Gimmicks

35 Comments

John Crossan link

19/12/2014 12:48:08 am

Hi Nick, it sounds like TA concepts really worked for helping her see things in a more helpful way. I'll check out these links, I'll be attending a workshop in Jan, TA applied to coaching and I'm sure they'll help prepare me.

Nick Wright

19/12/2014 01:03:00 am

Hi John and thanks for the note. I took part in a couple of workshops at PB Coaching on TA in coaching. They were run by Sarah Willis and were great. I will be very interested to hear what insights you glean from the workshop in January. Keep in touch! With best wishes. Nick

Paul Stuart

19/12/2014 12:59:02 am

Hi Nick - I also found these a few months back and agree that they provide an excellent intro to the topic. Cheers ! Paul

19/12/2014 01:04:36 am

Thanks Paul. Yes, I was impressed by how they manage to intro TA using simple language and with great illustrations. With best wishes. Nick

Mark Vollmer

19/12/2014 01:00:16 am

Thanks Nick. Always good to have some quick references. I appreciate you sharing!

19/12/2014 01:08:10 am

Thanks for your kind feedback, Mark. With best wishes. Nick

Ian Brownlee link

19/12/2014 06:01:44 am

Ah, how nice to see someone mentioning TA. Haven't thought about it in many years. Good luck with the Blog.

19/12/2014 07:07:46 am

Hi Ian and thanks for the note. You may find this earlier blog on TA interesting too? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/will-the-real-me-please-stand-up. I'd be interested to hear your comments. With best wishes. Nick

Olivier Burq

19/12/2014 07:05:27 am

At least someone who seems to use and practice TA. I like very much TA, it's a really powerful tool to deal and coach with people and organizations, unfortunately underrated (compared to NLP for example). In particular the Eric Berne's theory of organizations (see is book "Structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups") and the Fox diagram/model, are so helpful and powerful, and offer an impressive synthesis of structures and allow establish accurate diagnostics and interventions to support change within systems.

19/12/2014 07:11:28 am

Hi Olivier and thanks for such thoughtful feedback. Yes, I too like TA, especially its basic insights and ideas. (I have to confess that I find some its more complex academic aspects a bit impenetrable!). I haven't heard of the Fox diagram/model before - could you say a bit more about it? I would also be very interested to hear of any examples you would be happy to share from your own experience of applying TA in organisations. I'll certainly have a glance at the book by Berne that you mentioned. With best wishes. Nick

Oliver Burq

10/1/2015 02:34:54 pm

Hi Nick, sorry for the delay to answer. Happy new year by the way.

You're right, the TA beyond its basic insights and ideas can be complex and not easy to understand. I recommend to start with the basic before entering into deeper stuff such as the Eric Berne's theory of organizations. Nevertheless I recommend you to read his book "The structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups" (NY, Grove Press, Inc, 1963). If you want to go further you could (should) take TA courses, starting with the "TA 101" introductory course; and if you see TA is for you, you go on with the rest of the training. I thing its the only way to really use TA as a powerful coaching tool for organizations. You should find some books about how to coach groups and organizations with the BTO and explain the use of the Fox diagram, I know great books about the BTO, but unfortunately they are in french,

At last I will recommend you to see the TA and the theory of time structure, and the Karpman drama triangle (psychological games), both very useful and easy to understand and to practice in organizations and groups/teams.

Best wishes.Olivier

Serbanescu Bogdan

20/12/2014 03:34:34 am

Transactional Analysis is a great tools to analyze interactions in and outside organizations and group. I am using it for more than ten years. But to really know it, it is not enough to read books; you need to study it in an organized setting (which may lead to certification). If somebody wants to know more and has the ability (and opportunity) to organize a group, I can come and teach it - at least, the official introductory course (TA-101) and, from there, to decide on a possible creation of a training program.

20/12/2014 03:42:26 am

Hi Serbanescu and thanks for the comments. I agree that TA, like any field of interpersonal practice (e.g. therapy, coaching, group work), is best developed in an environment where there are opportunities to learn, practise, reflect and receive feedback. Having said that, I have found that some books and the online links I pointed towards provide a helpful introduction that can enable someone to see TA principles in practice simply by observing their own and others' interactions, feelings, dialogues, behaviour etc. and by experimenting with alternatives to see what happens. With best wishes. Nick

Helen Barnes

20/12/2014 03:47:50 am

These are great u tube videos, I will use them with my students. Thank you for sharing.

20/12/2014 03:48:38 am

Hi Helen. Thank you for your kind feedback. Yes, they are a great resource for introducing TA clearly and succinctly. In my OD consultancy work, I'm also reflecting on how the same observations and principles that TA reveals and offers happen between teams/groups and organisations as well as at an individual level. Food for thought! With best wishes. Nick

Errol Benvie

21/12/2014 05:45:02 am

Yep, Theramin Trees produce some good videos.

21/12/2014 05:45:49 am

Yep, Errol. I particularly like these TA ones. Nick

Stephen Pridgeon

24/12/2014 02:51:37 am

Good to see that you are using TA. A very simple yet powerful model of behaviour. It seems to have gone out of fashion recently, but is still as relevant now as it way 30 years ago.

24/12/2014 04:25:59 am

Hi Stephen and thanks for the note. Yes, these things seem to go in and out of fashion over time. I was re-inspired by TA when I did a module in this at PB Coaching a couple of years ago as part of a post-grad diploma course. Reminded me just how interesting and useful it can be for understanding and approaching relationships (individuals, teams, groups, orgs etc). With best wishes. Nick

Mike Smith

24/12/2014 02:57:12 am

Hi Nick - we've been using this for a few years now and it's a great intro to TA for managers and anyone with relationship and conflict issues. We even use it for time management and the art of saying 'no'.

24/12/2014 04:28:18 am

Hi Mark. Thanks for the note. Yes, I wish I had discovered these videos a few years ago! Great to hear how you have found different applications for TA. I would be interested to hear more about how you do it. With best wishes. Nick

Cheryl Lower Coonahan

26/12/2014 02:12:15 pm

Dear Nick,
Thanks for sharing this. I continue to marvel at how powerful and simple a framework TA is. When I was a child, my father (who did quite a lot of counseling) taught it to my sisters and I and now I bring it in to my life and work quite often.

26/12/2014 02:14:16 pm

Hi Cheryl and thanks for the note. I would love to hear any examples you would be happy to share of how you have brought TA into your work. Always keen to learn! With best wishes. Nick

Luis A Marrero

30/12/2014 03:37:26 am

Thanks for sharing, Nick. I am fond of Eric Berne's work, and even did my graduate thesis in TA applied to organizations. I still use it to this day as a complement to meaningful purpose psychology. Happy holidays.

30/12/2014 03:40:34 am

Hi Luis. Thanks for your encouraging feedback. I would love to hear more about how you apply TA to organisations. Could you say a bit more? With best wishes for the new year. Nick

30/12/2014 09:51:41 am

Hello Nick. I facilitate a TA for Individual, Group and Organizational Effectiveness laboratory. I use TA psychometrics and have participants go through exercises to deepen their self-understanding using PAC, script analysis, etc. They then learn alternate ways to be and to strengthen authentic behaviors and feelings. I have versions for the lab that runs from one to six days. Cheers. Luis

Anita Mountain link

31/12/2014 03:56:40 am

Hi, I agree that these videos seem to introduce TA effectively. However, the TA is oversimplified and there are some inaccuracies. e.g. when the Structural Ego States are mixed with the way we function i.e. when he talks about controlling and nurturing etc. Whilst this simplicity might seem good, those learning from these videos might not get the understanding necessary and go off half-cocked.

It takes on average 5 years to become a Certified Transactional Analyst in one field of TA (and there are four fields: Organisational, Educational, Psychotherapy and Counselling). It takes another 5-7 years to become a Teaching & Supervising Transactional Analyst in one field. The Official Introduction to TA (TA101) is the start point but as some people have mentioned there are some good books around by qualified Transactional Analysts.

For those of you who wish to use Organisational TA you will find our book useful: Working Together, Organizational Transactional Analysis and Business Performance, published by Gower. You can download a free chapter on OKness from our website: www.mountain-associates.co.uk. There are a number of exercises at the end of each chapter for those of you who wish to apply it to your work. However, good training where you can hold discussions and work together with others to apply TA is always a good way to move forward with any approach.

If you go onto the Institute of Developmental TA website you will find other qualified practitioners and trainer/supervisors and the UKATA website for psychotherapy practitioners and trainer/supervisors. The IDTA are running regional events in 2015 and the first is in February in Exeter. We are also offering free supervision to members (and we have intentionally kept fees reasonable so do look into it). The website address is: www.instdta.org. I look forward to seeing you there. There will be another one in the Midlands in May. Watch out for webinars too.

In addition many of us run programmes in Organisational TA so some of you may be interested in these.

It is great that there is so much interest in TA these days and many organisations are using it. Those of you who would value profiling tool might also value Process Communication developed by Taibi Kahler who contributed to TA years ago. PCM was used by NASA for 18 years and is a great package and profiling tool.

I wish you well for 2015 and perhaps I will meet some of you in the near future.

14/1/2015 04:40:47 am

Hi Anita. Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for sharing such a helpful range of references and resources - very much appreciated! With best wishes. Nick

John Crossan

14/1/2015 01:52:49 am

Thanks again for posting this Nick, great prep for me for workshop 4 of our PG Dip Coaching Psychology, fast approaching next week! The first assignment's due in at the workshop as well, I'd better get a move on!

14/1/2015 04:32:19 am

Hi John and thanks for the note. Hope the videos do prove useful as prep. I'd be interested to see a copy of your assignment when you've completed it...if you would be happy to share. Enjoy the TA module. With best wishes. Nick

Rebecca Cain

14/1/2015 01:54:09 am

Thanks Nick. Those were great. Really helpful as I'm prepping for next week's course!

14/1/2015 04:29:10 am

Hi Rebecca. Glad you liked them and hope the course goes well. I've started to read Ian Stewart's book, 'TA Today' and am finding that interesting and accessible too. With best wishes. Nick

Karen Nolan

14/1/2015 01:55:06 am

I love TA, take a look at Karpman's Drama Triangle and Winner's Triangle both great for use in coaching. I'd also recommend Julie Hay's book Working it out at Work. And there's some good material and video clips from Bob Cooke http://mcpt.co.uk

14/1/2015 04:34:56 am

Hi Karen. Thanks for the recommendations and links - very helpful! I've used the drama triangle from time to time; interestingly with a CEO even today. I haven't heard of the Winner's Triangle before. Could you say a bit more about it? With best wishes. Nick

14/1/2015 04:49:47 am

Hi all. A quick P.S. Just been glancing at this website which has some interesting info about TA training options and useful blogs on how to apply TA in a work environment: http://blog.mountain-associates.co.uk/. Many thanks to Anita Mountain for referencing it (above). Nick