A Practical Framework for Understanding People, Communication and Workplace Culture
Transactional Analysis offers a way of making sense of what happens between people and within the wider environments they work in.
Why we communicate differently with different people. Why some teams develop open, productive ways of working while others become cautious, competitive or dependent. Why certain patterns seem to repeat across meetings, relationships or whole parts of an organisation.
The TA101 is a two-day introduction to Transactional Analysis. On this page, we’ve brought together the parts of the course that are particularly relevant to organisational life - communication, relationships, teams, leadership and workplace culture.
No previous knowledge of psychology or Transactional Analysis is needed.
10 & 11 October 2026, Leeds, £215
17 & 18 April 2027, Leeds, £220
17 & 18 July 2027, Leeds, £220
Why we communicate differently in different situations
Understanding people, relationships and workplace culture
Working with people involves more than exchanging information or getting a task done.
Every workplace develops patterns in how people communicate, respond to authority, handle disagreement, make decisions and relate to one another. Some of those patterns sit between individuals. Others become part of a team or wider organisational culture.
We may notice that certain conversations are easier in one part of an organisation than another. That people behave differently depending on who is in the room. That some teams encourage openness and challenge, while others become cautious, dependent or highly competitive.
Transactional Analysis gives us a framework for looking more closely at what may be happening.
It can help us explore questions such as:
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Why do we communicate differently with different people and in different settings?
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How do authority, responsibility and autonomy influence behaviour at work?
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What helps some teams develop open, productive ways of working?
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How do repeated patterns become part of a team or organisational culture?
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Why can the same issue play out very differently across different parts of an organisation?
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What are individuals, teams and leaders each contributing to the way a workplace functions?
TA does not provide a formula for managing people or changing culture. It offers a way of noticing and thinking about the patterns that develop between people and within organisations, and the part we may play in maintaining or changing them.
Who is the TA101 for?
This page is written for people working in organisations because the TA101 has strong relevance to communication, leadership, teams, working relationships and organisational culture.
It may be particularly useful for:
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HR and People professionals
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Learning and Development managers
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team leaders and managers
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coaches and consultants
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organisational development practitioners
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facilitators and trainers
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people working in leadership or people-development roles
The course itself is open to anyone interested in Transactional Analysis, so the group may also include counsellors, therapists, trainees and people from other professional backgrounds.
That mix can be part of what makes the learning useful: the same TA models can be explored across different kinds of relationships, teams and professional settings.
You do not need a psychology background, and you do not need to work in therapy or counselling.
What you’ll explore
The TA101 introduces the core concepts of Transactional Analysis. These models can be used to think about people, communication and relationships in many different settings, including organisations, teams and professional life.
Why we communicate differently in different situations
TA's model of ego states helps us think about how people respond to authority, responsibility, challenge and other people.
It can help explain why someone who is confident and capable in one situation may communicate very differently in another, and why our own responses can change depending on the role we are in or who is in front of us.
It can also help us think about the kinds of responses that are encouraged or discouraged within particular teams and workplace cultures.
What is happening in communication
Transactions are the building blocks of communication in TA.
They offer a way of looking closely at an interaction: what one person says, how the other responds and why some exchanges remain clear and productive while others become uncomfortable, defensive or confused.
Looking at patterns of transactions can also help us notice the ways communication develops within teams, meetings and organisations over time.
Understanding patterns in relationships and teams
TA's concept of psychological games explores recurring patterns in relationships.
These are interactions that can seem to happen again and again, often with familiar roles, responses and outcomes.
Learning to recognise these patterns can help us become more aware of how they develop, how they may be reinforced within a group or team, and the part we may inadvertently play in keeping them going.
The assumptions we bring into working life
Script theory explores how earlier experiences and decisions can influence the expectations and assumptions we carry into later life.
In organisations, that might affect how we respond to authority, disagreement, recognition, responsibility, success or failure.
When individual assumptions meet workplace norms and expectations, they can also contribute to wider patterns in teams and organisational culture.
The purpose is not to analyse colleagues or diagnose people. It is to develop a richer understanding of the influences that can shape behaviour, including our own.
Why Transactional Analysis?
There are plenty of models for communication, leadership, teamwork and organisational culture.
Transactional Analysis is different because it does not simply offer a set of techniques.
It gives you a way of thinking about people in context: the individual, the relationship, the team and the wider patterns that can develop around them.
Organisations may be structured around roles, objectives and processes, but they are lived through relationships and culture. Expectations develop about who speaks, who decides, how disagreement is handled, what behaviour is rewarded and what people learn to avoid.
TA gives us a language for looking at some of those dynamics.
Its models are accessible enough to use in everyday working life, while having enough depth to remain useful as you encounter more complex situations.
You will complete the full internationally recognised TA101 syllabus. The models are relevant across many different settings, including organisational life, professional relationships, counselling and therapy.
What are the two days like?
The TA101 is taught in a small, face-to-face group.The two days combine teaching, discussion and practical exploration of the models.Because participants often come from different professional backgrounds, the course brings together a range of perspectives and examples.
You may hear people reflecting on organisational life, teams, professional relationships, counselling, education, coaching or other settings.The course is interactive, but you will not be expected to disclose personal information or take part in therapy.
The emphasis is on learning, reflection and using the models thoughtfully.People often find that the ideas become useful well beyond the course itself, both professionally and personally.
What previous participants have said
Practical details
"Wonderful session, useful for both my business and future personal relationships. Thank you."
Time: 9.30am–4.30pm both days
Location: Mercure Leeds Parkway Hotel, North West Leeds
Cost includes course book and materials, lunch and refreshments
The course is delivered face-to-face in a small group.
On successful completion of the two days, you will receive the internationally recognised TA101 certificate. A stand alone qualification that can also be used for further training in TA.
A different way of understanding what happens at work
A different way of understanding what happens at workIf your work involves leading, supporting, developing or working alongside other people, the TA101 offers a practical framework for thinking about communication, relationships, teams and workplace culture with greater depth.
About the trainer
Andy Williams TSTA(P)
Andy is not only a very experienced TA trainer but, as a practicing psychotherapist, he still uses TA theory daily with his clients. With years of practical experience as a therapist and within organisations, you can be confident he trainer knows what he is talking about. You can also be confident that his TA knowledge is as relevant and up-to-date as it gets. He has been delivering the TA101 for many years.
"Wonderful session, useful for both my business and future personal relationships. Thank you." RB
“I would highly recommend this course, in terms of both personal and professional development. One of the most beneficial courses I have attended.” LE
“Excellent facilities. Andy is an engaging and responsive presenter, generous with his knowledge and experience. The training was informative, useful and fun.” Jenny S