Empower Clients with Understanding the Psychological Models Winner and Drama Triangles

Many coaches often wonder what are some useful models they can utilise with clients before beginning a coaching programme. 

Two valuable models coaches may want to share with their clients are the Drama and the Winner’s Triangles: what they mean and what are the differences between them which can support them to make empowering choices.

These powerful psychological models can transform self-awareness and interpersonal dynamics, setting the stage for deep and meaningful coaching work.

What is the Drama Triangle?

First introduced by Dr. Stephen Karpman, the Drama Triangle describes three roles individuals unconsciously fall into during conflict or stress:

• Victim – A feeling of powerlessness, stuckness, and seeks rescuing.
• Persecutor – Blames and criticises, exerting control through dominance and judgement.
• Rescuer – Overhelps, enabling the 'victim' to feel justified and perpetuates dependency.

We can all cycle through these roles without realising it, leading to repeated patterns of frustration and stagnation in our personal and professional lives.

Being Aware of When the Coach Becomes the Rescuer

As coaches, it is crucial to recognise how we might unintentionally step into the Rescuer role. This happens when we start doing the work for our clients instead of coaching them by listening deeply, asking questions, reflecting back what is heard or noticed in support of the client to find their own way forward based on their inquiry. 

Some common signs of slipping into the Rescuer role include:

• Feeling overly responsible for a client’s progress.
• Giving solutions instead of facilitating self-discovery.
• Feeling frustrated when clients don’t take action.
• Taking on emotional burdens that belong to the client.

While our role is to support and empower clients, overstepping into the 'Rescuer' role can hinder a client’s growth by reinforcing their 'Victim' mindset. 

Instead, the professional coach's goal (or a leader's goal) is to empower the client to take ownership of their challenges and opportunities, as well as support and acknowledge their creativity and resourcefulness to determine their own way forward.

Shifting to the Winner’s Triangle

The Winner’s Triangle, developed by Acey Choy, provides an empowering alternative to the Drama Triangle This includes the roles of:

• Vulnerable (versus Victim) – Acknowledges emotions and takes responsibility for personal growth.
• Assertive (versus Persecutor) – Communicates needs clearly and respectfully.
• Caring (versus Rescuer) – Offers support while fostering self-sufficiency and self-determination in others.

For coaches, embracing the 'Caring' role - means asking powerful questions, encouraging reflection, and creating accountability rather than taking over the client's responsibility. 

It requires trusting the coaching process and allowing clients to navigate their own journey, with the coach being the facilitator rather than the 'fixer'.

Introduce The Models in Coach Training

In Empower World's coach training programmes, we integrate these models to support coaches in recognising their own tendencies and developing strategies to stay in the Winner’s Triangle.

Through interactive exercises and role-playing scenarios, we ensure that coaches understand how to facilitate transformation rather than inadvertently enabling dependency.

We also explore these concepts in-depth in our training materials, supporting coaches to recognise patterns that may emerge in their coaching practice. By embedding these frameworks early in their learning journey, coaches can create lasting, sustainable impact for their clients.

Why These Models Matter 

By introducing these concepts at the start of a coaching programme, clients gain an immediate framework to identify where they are in the present moment or in certain situations - and the costs of being in that mindset - to support them make new choices and shift their behavioural patterns. 

In other words, they can learn to move from reactive, conflict-driven dynamics to empowered, positive outcome oriented interactions, and therefore, maximising the impact of your coaching.

Encouraging clients to reflect on where they might be engaging in the Drama Triangle and inviting them toward the Winner’s Triangle sets a strong foundation for their personal and professional transformation.

Be Empowered.

Listen to our Podcast!

For a deeper dive into the Drama Triangle and the Winner’s Triangle, tune into our podcast, where Jeanine and Marie explore the models and the impact these profiles can have in coaching and leadership, as well as share success stories and provide practical strategies to stay in the Winner’s Triangle.

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

YouTube: ------ https://bit.ly/YT-Podcast-EP-224

Direct Link: ---- https://bit.ly/Podcast-EP-224

Spotify: ------- https://bit.ly/SP-Podcast-EP-224

iTunes: -------- https://bit.ly/IT-Podcast-EP-224

Be empowered

Upcoming Empower World Programmes

Join our next Empower World complimentary networking session with a focus on Effective Leadership with a Coaching Mindset, starting 08 April 2025 here.

Get Credentialed Sprint: designed to support coaches rebuild their coaching confidence and get back on track with their calling to become a professional coach who creates transformative impact, starting 12 April 2025 here.

The Empower World's world-class ICF-Approved Professional Coach Training and Leadership Programme's next intake starts on 18 April 2025 in Doha, Qatar. You can find out more here.