Time Actions assessment
Do we manage time or does time manage us? Can we really save and spend time? And what about “free” time? Often, it seems that we're shackled to the schedules, timetables, deadlines and priorities of time management practices when, all the while, we simply want to do what we enjoy at a pace that suits our nature.
When free to do so, people structure their time in a variety of ways around the different satisfactions they seek. TA recognises six ways to spend time:
- Activities - Time and energy spent working with others for mutual benefit
- Pastimes - The shallow, sterile, timefilling “smalltalk” of transactions
- Rituals - Exchanges that are normal in a culture, such as greetings
- ‘Games’ - Time wasted on transactions that damage relationships
- Withdrawal - Introspective, contemplative, regenerative time out
- Intimacy - Emotional, experiential, intellectual and spiritual mutuality.
Promana’s Time Action survey uses other terms in place of several used in TA. ‘Pastimes’ and ‘Rituals’ were combined as ‘Habitual’; ‘Social’ (process) was introduced for balanced metrics; ‘Games’ was renamed ‘Wasted time’; and ‘Intimacy’ became ‘Interaction’ (for people who have trouble with intimacy 😉).
Each person’s preferred time structure is a part of their inner drive as well as a potential satisfier for them. When personal preference is pushed aside by time management practices, expect lowered morale and effort.
Activation assessment
TA uses the term ‘stroke’ as a unit of recognition. Positive or negative strokes are automatically included in each transaction, whether or not you meant to do that. It’s not just the choice of words - your tone, voice inflexion, eye contact, facial expression and body language are all included, for free! Sometimes, it’s the absence of meaningful recognition that is most noticeable.
Promana’s Activation survey uses four stroke-sensitive activators: the Person, the Achiever, the Pleaser and the Troublemaker. We have retained the Person, (the most significant factor in the group) but renamed the other three the Producer, the Helper and the Catalyst as those are more consistent with our model. We included Pressure of Time too, but not for its stroking value; it’s more of a driver and stressor, something to keep under watch.
Know your own recognition preferences, and discover what gives other people their buzz. You may be thrilled by being commended for that assignment you aced, but that doesn’t mean your project partner enjoyed their moment in the limelight with you. They were happy when you said, “Thanks for your support, I couldn’t have done it without you!”
Above all, be sincere and ethical when you consciously use strokes. They can be used improperly to manipulate and mislead people.
Transactions assessment
This two-part survey examines decision-making and communicating. The latter uses TA’s ego states - the judgemental and supportive Parents, the natural and adaptive Child(ren) and the objective Adult.
Transactions between ego states are the key to TA. Their analysis and understanding provides insights into the health and quality of relationships, at a personal level and across whole organisations.