Behavior Analysis and Leadership development- Part 3

The four general interactional or transactional styles can be depicted as under-
I'm not OK You are not O.K. Avoidance Bossing

I am O.K. You are O.K. Diffident Competant/confident

TRANSACTIONAL STYLES
The four life positions are combined with the three ego states. All the three ego-states and their dimensions (sub-ego states) are important and perform distinct functions. Their effectiveness, however, depends to a large extent on the basic life position an individual takes. Thus, combining the four life positions and six ego state dimensions, we get the 24 different transactional styles which would be explained here.

Let us see the life positions under 4 major heads

1)I’m not O.K You’re not O.K
2)I’m O.K You’re not O.K
3)I ‘m O.K You’re O.K
4)I’m not O.K You’re not O.K

The 6 ego states are as follows.
Parent
Regulating
Nurturing
Adult
Adaptive
Adaptive
Child
Reactive
Creative

If you apply the ego states to the 4 behaviour patterns(life positions) we get 24 transactional styles.

Let us see the differnt styles in Life position No.I- (ie. Iam not O.K. , Youare not O.K.)





A for Avoidant (or I'm Not OK, You're Not OK)
In this life position, the person has respect neither for himseH or herself, nor for others. It seems meaningless to the person to do anything worthwhile. The following styles are likely to be shown with the dominance" of various ego-states:
Traditional (Regulating Parent)
Establish norms and regulations of behaviour, disapprove of any deviation from the norms, and ensure that such norms are followed. In the traditional style, a manager will have faith neither in himself or herself nor in subordinates with regard to proper behaviour. The easiest way to deal with this person, therefore, would be to follow the rules and regulations and the procedures laid down.
Overindulgent (Nurturing Parent)
Interested in protecting and providing support to others. Not being sure how to provide such support, nor trusting others to demand such support, the general style becomes overindulgent. A manager, a consultant, or a trainer with this style may show more consideration towards others than necessary
Cynical (Adult)
The Adult ego-state is concerned with tasks. The attitude of the avoidant style in the Adult is one of lack of faith and concern with work. This produces a cynical attitude. A manager, consultant, or trainer using this style is likely to indicate this attitude by remarks indicating that nothing significant can ever be done
Sulking (Adaptive Child)
The Adaptive Child accepts the norms of others and enjoys approval and conformity. However, if the person has 'not-OK' feelings both for himself or herself and others, this person does not share his or her feelings with others and proceeds to sulk. A manager, consultant, or trainer of this style may adapt to a situation by keeping feelings of dissatisfaction private. This is a dysfunctional adaptation, growing out of a need for safety
Withdrawn (Reactive Child)
In a not-OK-not-OK position, a child feeling angry tends to show anger (or aggressiveness) by withdrawal behaviour. A manager may become disinterested and uninvolved; a consultant may break off the consulting relationship with a client; a trainer may lose interest in his or her profession.
Humorous (Creative Child)
The creativity of a child in an influencing role in the not-OK-not-OK position is likely to result in ill-timed humour. Humour may help to avoid the immediate problems, but this is different from genuine humour, which is used occasionally to enliven difficult situations. A manager, consultant, or trainer in this style may try to show imaginativeness by using humour all the time, which then reduces the seriousness of a situation until it seems ludicrous.