Why did I respond like that?
Featured in the Essential Interpersonal Skills for Outstanding Managers training manual
By Eddie Davies
Category: Communication Skills
Credit price: 4 download credits (Single user)
Individuals frequently find themselves involved in arguments and other inappropriate responses when engaged in interpersonal encounters. Many people don’t know why their original approach was ineffective and why the discussion and relationship continues to decline. Many psychologists have studied what happens during interpersonal communication, and this training activity looks at the work of Eric Berne whose concepts of Transactional Analysis form the basis of many approaches to understanding and working effectively with other people.
You begin this training activity with a discussion introducing the basic concepts of Eric Berne’s approach to interpersonal behaviour. The participants then carry out a number of group exercises to identify the types of behaviour associated with the five ‘ego states’. The positive and negative aspects of these states are also explored. This section ends with the participants having an opportunity to look at their current use of each ego state, compared to how they would like to behave, and then produce an action plan to change their behaviour. They move on to practical applications in dealing with communication at work. You introduce the concept of complimentary and crossed transaction, highlighting how the latter can hook you into an inappropriate response that lies at the heart of much interpersonal friction. The participants examine how to use transactions, plus an adult approach using empathy techniques, to get the conversation back on track with the aim of reaching a positive outcome. They are given the opportunity to practise these skills, either using their own or given scenarios. The training activity ends with the participants looking back at their learning and developing an action plan for transferring the key points back to the workplace.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to enable participants to examine the basic concepts that underpin their communications with other people, and to look at their current knowledge level and practise handling awkward encounters for maximum effect.
- Themes:
- Assertiveness,
- Coaching,
- Communication,
- Counselling skills,
- Customer care,
- Influencing skills,
- Interpersonal skills,
- Interviewing skills,
- Introduction to effective management,
- Life and career planning,
- Managing meetings,
- Negotiating skills,
- Performance management,
- Project management,
- Sales training,
- Self-assessment,
- Self-development,
- Stress management,
- Supervisory skills,
- Team-building skills,
- Team development,
- Time management,
- Trainer development,
- Women into management,
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:40:00 |
| No of Pages: | 33 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers as either a stand-alone session or be combined with other training activities on training events that are designed to improve participant’s interpersonal skills.
Download the training activity, Why did I respond like that? as featured in the Fenman training manual; Essential Interpersonal Skills for Outstanding Managers