Organisational transactional analysis in business - the key to human interaction and building effective organisations

Organisational transactional analysis (AT) is a method based on the psychology of human interaction that is widely used in business settings. At its essence, it offers tools for analysing and improving communication, managing relationships and building a healthy organisational culture. Derived from Eric Berne 's theory, originally developed in the 1950s, AT has rapidly gained recognition in fields ranging from psychotherapy to education, and its effectiveness in managing organisations has made it one of the cornerstones of modern management.

What is organisational transactional analysis in business?

Organisational transactional analysis is an extension of the AT concept to the business environment. Its main objective is to understand how people communicate in organisations, how patterns of behaviour affect the effectiveness of teams, and how interactions can be optimised to improve business performance.

AT assumes that the c1TP1Personality consists of three main states of the Self: Parent, Adult i Child. Each of these states plays a role in communication and interaction, influencing how people respond to work situations. In an organisational context, these states of Self can shape:

• company culture,
• decision-making processes,
• managing teams,
• relations between supervisors and employees,
• change management strategies.

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Definition of transactional analysis according to ITAATransactional Analysis as defined by the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) is defined as follows: "AT is a theory of personality and a system of psychotherapy focused on personal growth and personal change." Currently, the scope of analytical theories and their application definitely goes beyond the field of psychotherapy and is still being explored and expanded.

Main assumptions of transactional analysis in organisations

AT is based on three key philosophical assumptions:

1. Everyone is OK - The fundamental belief that every person has value and potential. In organisations, this means building relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
2. Everyone has the ability to think - employees are able to analyse the situation and make decisions independently, which is conducive to delegating responsibility and promoting autonomy.
3. Everyone can make a decision and take responsibility for their lives - In the business environment, this translates into the strengthening of individual and team responsibility.

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Transactional analysis in organisational management

Above all, transactional analysis allows managers to better understand their employees so that they can choose more appropriate forms of communication.

Key elements of organisational transactional analysis

1. States of self in organisations
   In organisations, states of IAM translate into different roles and aspects of the company:
   
   • Adult Is responsible for logical thinking, data analysis, fact-based decision-making. It is the foundation of effective management.
   • Parent Shapes the organisational culture, norms and motivational system. It can be supportive (caring) or critical (normative).
   • Child brings creativity, innovation and excitement, but in excess can lead to conflict or destabilise the team.
2. Transactions in communication
   In business, transactions (units of communicative exchange) are analysed in order to understand what states of the Self are activated in a given interaction. These can be:
   
   • Complementary - otherwise known as simple occurs when the response of person B comes out of the state of Self to which sender A directed the stimulus and is addressed to the same state of Self from which sender A sent the stimulus. According to Berne, complementary transactions are transactions that are expected and relevant to the situation at hand.
   • Crossed - It leads to a break (sometimes very short) of the previous relationship between the interlocutors and the further exchange of transactions already takes place in a modified form. The effect of crossed transactions is usually withdrawal, surprise or indignation. This type of transaction is the most common source of misunderstandings.
   • Hidden - person A sends a stimulus from two different states of the Self to two different states of the Self of receiver B. Recipient B responds to the stimulus also from the two states of Self to which the stimulus was directed. One of the stimuli is sent at the overt, so-called socially accepted level, and the other at the covert, so-called psychological level.
3. Analysis of psychological games
   Psychological games, or repetitive patterns of behaviour leading to negative outcomes, are a common problem in organisations. They can manifest themselves in the form of conflict, decreased efficiency, frustration or a tense atmosphere. Examples of games include:
   • - I'm just trying to help you
   • - At your service 
   • - Anguished
4. Recognition marks
   Recognition signs are signals that people send to each other to confirm the existence of a relationship. In organisations, positive stigmas, such as praise and recognition, enhance motivation and commitment, while their absence or an excess of negative signs leads to frustration and a decline in morale.

Benefits of using transactional analysis in business

1. Improving communication
   With AT, managers and employees can better understand their communication patterns and avoid misunderstandings arising from crossed or hidden transactions.
2. Building healthy relationships
   The analysis of life scripts and psychological games allows for the elimination of destructive behavioural patterns, which promotes the building of authentic and open relationships.
3. Effective management of teams
   Recognising the states of Self in employees allows the management style to be adapted to their needs and potential.
4. Motivation and commitment
   Positive recognition marks enhance employees' sense of worth and motivation, which translates into efficiency and commitment.
5. Conflict resolution
   By understanding the mechanisms of transactions and psychological games, AT enables you to quickly identify the source of conflict and implement effective strategies to resolve it. Provides a better understanding of the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in everyday situations

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Examples of the application of transactional analysis concepts in business

1. Change management
   When restructuring an organisation, leaders can use AT to understand employees' emotional responses and better manage resistance to change.
2. Building an organisational culture
   Organisations using AT often introduce incentive systems based on a balance between a supportive Parent and a creative Child.
3. Leadership development
   AT training helps managers to better understand their own behavioural and communication patterns, which promotes the building of an authentic leadership style.
4. Interpersonal problem solving
   In teams where tensions arise, transactional analysis can quickly identify the source of the problem, such as psychological games, and implement solutions.

Interesting facts about transactional analysis

1. The term "life script"
   Berne borrowed the concept of the script from theatrical terminology, describing how people 'play their parts' according to patterns learned in childhood.
2. Psychological games in pop culture
   Berne's book Games People Play describes many games that are still used today in the analysis of contemporary social and professional interactions.
3. AT in negotiations
   Modern negotiation strategies often use AT tools to better understand the emotions and needs of the other party.

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The Encounter Group is the oldest and most experienced Transactional Analysis partner in Poland and has been setting the standard in training in this field for years. Drawing on the rich theoretical heritage of Eric Berne and his successors, the organisation offers a wide range of AT training courses and workshops that are appreciated both nationally and internationally. 

The Encounter Group attracts professionals from a variety of sectors - trainers, coaches, psychotherapists and managers - who want to deepen their competencies in working with people. Importantly, some of the training delivered at The Encounter Group can count as development hours towards EMCC accreditation.

The combination of experience, reputation and international recognition can make us the number one choice for you when you want to develop your skills based on Transactional Analysis and use it effectively in your career.

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Summary

Organisational transactional analysis is a comprehensive approach that helps to understand the mechanisms of how people function in organisations. Using AT tools, companies can improve communication, increase the effectiveness of teams, build healthier relationships and manage change more effectively. In an era of dynamic economic change and rising expectations of employees, AT is becoming an invaluable tool for both managers and employees. By understanding human interactions and behavioural patterns, organisations can achieve better results by creating an environment that encourages growth and satisfaction for all parties.