Before starting my own business some 25 years ago, I worked as a VP of Sales in the Fashion Industry. During that time, I experienced first hand the impact of leading from the Drama Triangle both as the recipient and sadly as a Leader.
In my years of training as a coach and consultant, I quickly came to realize that my initiation into the Drama Triangle occurred many years before I was leading in a company. It was a dynamic in my family. I found that cathartic to explore and perhaps you might too.
The Karpman Triangle was an adaptation of Eric Berne’s theory of translation analysis.
While transactional analysis is the method for studying interactions between individuals, one researcher postulates that drama-based leaders can instill an organizational culture of drama.
Persecutors are more likely to be in leadership positions and a persecutor culture goes hand in hand with cut throat competition, fear, blaming, manipulation, high turnover and an increased risk of lawsuits.
There are also victim cultures which can lead to low morale and low engagement as well as an avoidance of conflict.
And rescuer cultures which can be characterized as having a high dependence on the leader, low initiative and low innovation. Source credit Wikipedia
