Archetypes: What energies drive you?
“ Stay true to what you have always been. ”
Carl Gustav Jung
Introduced by Carl Gustav Jung, archetypes are representations that emerge from the collective unconscious and appear in myths, fairy tales, religions, spiritual traditions, but also in video games and TV series.
These powerful archetypes inspire us much like role models — often without us even realizing it! They are energies that drive us and speak to us, like the emblematic “El Profesor” in the hit Spanish TV series La Casa de Papel, who embodies “the knower”: placing himself above others, displaying unshakable confidence in his intelligence and meticulous planning.
Having noticed that these emblematic figures appear regularly and are very present during individual coaching sessions, they inspired me to create a deck of cards that I designed together with two fellow coaches and trainers. These cards are the synthesis of our 60 years of combined experience in yoga, coaching, supervision, and more generally, in both our personal and professional development.
What is their purpose? To better identify ourselves, to better know ourselves — because as long as we haven’t defined our own roles, it is difficult to see them and, consequently, to use them wisely.
I often cite the example of one of my clients who regularly played the role of Expert and Controller without really realizing it. In fact, no one around him had ever pointed out his behaviors, described, or explicitly named these two postures. By understanding that he was relying too heavily on these roles, he gave himself the opportunity to explore others! Together, we chose two archetypes to strengthen in his personality in order to help him achieve his goals: the Seducer and the Diplomat.
As for myself, I am aware that I tend to use the Warrior too often, and I am currently developing the Mediator and the Artist.
I consult the cards at least once a week, using them as a practical tool for coaching or self-coaching. Their interpretation helps me open up new reflections on complex subjects: last Sunday, while reflecting on the coming week, I drew the Explorer in the light. This is an archetype I know well and love, because it feels as if it gives me the green light to move forward with developing new products or exploring new territories.
In my coaching practice, I like to use the Archetypes deck in an open way: I lay out the 45 cards face up on the table and ask the coachee to choose the Archetypes they feel they rely on too systematically in a specific context, as well as the 3 or 4 they would like to draw on more. We then focus on these latter ones to develop anchors, language elements, and posture in order to embody each of these roles. The goal is to reinforce or amplify the personal roles we carry within us — but which may sometimes be too deeply buried, depending on our life story.
From a managerial perspective, being able to identify different leadership styles within a group through archetypes can help strengthen both individuality and the collective power of a team.
Kets de Vries, professor of leadership development at INSEAD, identified 8 different Leadership Archetypes:
The Strategist believes in “leadership as a game of chess,” he writes. This leader can face evolving surprises and challenges with vision and direction.
The Change-Catalyst is best suited to execution and has mastered the art of creating and implementing new organizations.
The Deal Maker does business. This archetype is skilled at spotting and seizing new opportunities — a born negotiator.
The Builder is an entrepreneur at heart. This type of leader has the talent, creative power, and determination to bring new ideas to life.
The Innovator is creative and generates new ideas. They have a strong ability to solve extremely difficult problems.
The Processor represents efficiency: a well-oiled machine with a talent for implementing company systems and structures.
The Coach nurtures the skills of their collaborators, knowing how to bring out the best in individuals and thereby creating a high-performance culture.
The Communicator is charismatic and has a strong positive impact on the organization.
Once our key roles are identified, the objective is to ensure that our Self remains in the driver’s seat — managing the organization of our roles so that we can use them appropriately depending on the circumstances. I emphasize that it is we ourselves, as adults, who consciously choose which role to adopt in a given situation. The idea is to create an inner dialogue — voice dialogue in English — between our Self and our sub-personalities, each of which has its own logic and needs.
This inner dialogue helps us strengthen our multiple intelligences, and I invite you to embark on the discovery of the many roles that drive you, so as to further develop your talents. For managers and leaders, it is by drawing on and reinforcing certain archetypes that they will improve their agility — to the benefit of their team, their results, and their success.