Managers are constantly interacting in their work, shaping the climate - whether favourable or not - for their teams to work effectively. They reach for many tools to help them face communication challenges. Many reach for the resources of Transactional Analysis (AT), which assumes the existence of three basic states of Self: Child, Adult and Parent. Utilising these states of Self is important for effective management, and each has a specific role in the interactions and consequently the manager's decisions and relationships. Each is important, each is responsible for something different, a good manager uses all of them. It's worth noting that in our interactions with others, we move seamlessly between states of Self (Child, Parent, Adult) all the time, what we call functional fluidity, which Dr Susannah Temple has explored. With this in mind, let's look at what each of the states of Self can bring to a manager's work.
EGO state - child
The Free Child state is associated with a free reading and expression of emotions and needs, spontaneity and creativity. Using the energy of the Child, we create, we come up with inspiring ideas, we experience emotions that can give us and those around us clues as to which direction we as a team want to take with our projects. A manager using his or her Child Self state identifies his or her emotions and needs faster, is creative and more open to new ideas and innovations, which can mean a creative approach to problem solving.
How do you distinguish between a Free Child and an Adapted Child?
However, if a manager only had his emotions and needs at his disposal, he would probably not be able to achieve goals and adjust to reality. For these activities, we need an Adapted Child, so that we are able to work together constructively, to do things we don't feel like doing, but nevertheless consider them right.
Sometimes, too, a manager needs to protest, over-inflated expectations of his team, unfair rules or illogical requests for the next set. He needs to use his Rebellious Child to put the boundary wisely.
Parent - types of transactions involving the manager
If we look into the Adult state of Self, we see that it is based on logical thinking, analysis of facts and objectivity, on being in the 'here and now'. A manager using this state makes decisions based on data and experience, analyses and chooses optimal solutions, which contributes to effective management. In this state, the manager is focused on reality and information and it is on the basis of this that decision-making takes place, rather than impulsive reactions. Estimating reality is the most important function of the Adult.
Are the roles of Parent and Adult the same thing?
The manager has two opportunities to use the I Parent state. In the Normative Parent view, he or she reflects on what rules he or she wants to introduce in his or her team, resolves conflict situations (good if he or she uses Adult in parallel). The Parent Self state, we note, is linked not only to values but also to social norms and authority. A manager using his or her Normative Parent self state can step in and lead the team according to established norms, be a mentor and an authority.
An authority that is based only on adherence to norms and rules is not enough. A good manager builds relationships and for this he or she uses his or her state of Self the Caring Parent. In this energy, we are able to care for others, use our empathy, care for others as well as ourselves.
What is transactional analysis in the work of a manager?
An effective manager is able to use all the functions of the states of Self flexibly. Fluent in a single conversation, task, he or she can switch between the states of Self, adapting to the situation and the needs of the team. This is why we speak of functional fluency.
Understanding and skilfully using the different states of Self is really about a manager's personal development. To be aware of one's strengths and limitations is to be aware of which states of Self I use frequently, adequately, and which I have a harder time accessing or use too much. Developing fluent and adequate access to all one's states of Self allows a manager to communicate better, build relationships and make accurate and balanced decisions.
Understanding the basis of the three states of IAM described by Eric Berne in the exchange of messages with the interlocutor is very important in a manager's work. It provides insight into the psychological basis of behaviour (finding out what people are playing at) and a critical, complementary but valid approach to solution-oriented communication. Would you like to learn more?
Find out what it means and what the risks are when a manager uses his or her states of Self incorrectly:
IAM states - how can they be misused?
Source:
- Berne E. (1987). What people play. The psychology of interpersonal relations, Warsaw: PWN.Dejean, H., Frugier, C. (2022).
- 50 exercises in transactional analysis. Poznan: Meeting Group Publishing.
- Training materials from the School of Transactional Analysis Group Meeting project.
- Training materials Practice Group Transactional Analysis Meeting.
- Stewart I., Joines V., Transactional Analysis Today. A new introduction, transl. K. Balcerkiewicz et al, Dom Wydawniczy Rebis, Poznań 2018.
- Temple, S. (1999). Functional fluency for educational transactional analysts. Transactional Analysis Journal. 29,164-174.
- Temple, S. (2004) Update on the Functional Fluency Model in Education. TAJ, Vol. 34, No. 3
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