- An employee shows up late for work. The supervisor says “I’m really disappointed in you. This is the fifth time this month you’ve been late for work!” The employee responds “I’m tired of you singling me out! Bob, Carol, and Ted are also late for work sometimes but you never chew them out!” Based on Transactional Analysis, what roles are the supervisor and employee playing?
- An employee receives a performance review from the supervisor. The supervisor points out several areas where the employee has performed well and where the employee’s performance needs to be improved. The employee responds, “Thank you so much for the feedback. How would you suggest I go about improving my performance?” Based on Transactional Analysis, what roles are the supervisor and employee playing?
- A leadership development coach is brought into a company to try to improve communication between supervisors and subordinates. The coach asks everyone to write down areas where their supervisor or subordinate has a blind spot. Everyone writes down a lot of complaints about areas that they think their supervisor or subordinate is clueless about. The coach shares what everyone wrote with the whole group. A lot of finger-pointing and arguments ensue, with a lot of feelings hurt. What additional steps do you think the coach should have taken based on the Johari Window that might have improved the outcome?
Roles of supervisors and employees
Full Answer Section
The employee is exhibiting Child behaviors by being defensive and making excuses. They are trying to deflect responsibility for their actions by saying that other employees are also late sometimes. They are also using emotional language by saying that the supervisor is "singling them out."- Transactional Analysis Roles in the Performance Review Scenario
In the scenario where the employee receives a performance review and asks for feedback, the supervisor is playing the Adult role and the employee is also playing the Adult role.
The supervisor is exhibiting Adult behaviors by providing constructive feedback that is both positive and negative. They are identifying areas where the employee is performing well and areas where they need to improve. They are also giving specific examples to support their feedback.
The employee is exhibiting Adult behaviors by being open to feedback and asking for suggestions on how to improve. They are not becoming defensive or making excuses. They are taking responsibility for their performance and are seeking guidance on how to do better.
- Improving Communication Using the Johari Window
The leadership development coach could have improved the outcome of the exercise by taking the following steps based on the Johari Window:
- Focus on the Open Arena: Instead of having everyone write down blind spots, the coach could have asked everyone to write down areas where they would like to improve their communication with their supervisor or subordinate. This would have shifted the focus from criticism to self-improvement.
- Use a structured feedback process: The coach could have provided a structured feedback process that allowed people to give feedback in a respectful and constructive way. This could have included using "I" statements and focusing on specific behaviors.
- Create a safe environment: The coach could have created a safe environment where people felt comfortable sharing feedback. This could have included setting ground rules for respectful communication and ensuring that everyone had a chance to speak.
By taking these steps, the coach could have helped to improve communication between supervisors and subordinates in a way that was positive and productive.
Sample Answer
1. Transactional Analysis Roles in the Late Employee Scenario
In the scenario where the employee is late for work and the supervisor reprimands them, the supervisor is playing the Adult role and the employee is playing the Child role.
The supervisor is exhibiting Adult behaviors by being direct, factual, and focused on the problem at hand. They are stating the employee's behavior (being late five times in a month) and expressing their disappointment. They are not making personal attacks or using emotional language.