ARCHETYPES 101
WE ARE THE STORIES WE TELL, OF OURSELVES,
OF OUR TEAM, AND OF OUR BUSINESS.
Our stories have the power to influence our beliefs and
inspire transformation or hold us in our old ways of working.
“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.” – Henry Ford
When we lead with our stories, we discover more about ourselves and each other, opening the door for empathy and trust.
This allows a team to intentionally create the stories of who they are for each other, their customers, and the patients. In the space of change, if we are not intentional, we are at risk of new stories emerging that become barriers to success.
Now is the time to lead with stories that build trust and establish connection, stories where your show how you can significantly impact the healthcare system and the lives of patients.
When you realize you are the author of your own story, you are empowered to have greater control over your future direction. Finding your inner compass enables you to be successful maneuvering through changing surroundings.
YOUR BELIEFS INFLUENCE YOUR ARCHETYPES.
Behind our patterns of behavior are beliefs that encourage our actions.
These beliefs show up as stories around what we value. The help us determine how we take in information, and generally see the world around us.
We have written these archetype descriptions on a personal level, so that you hear the voice of compassion for both yourself and others. There will be parts that seem true and parts that are not relevant. Our invitation is that you take what is valuable and let go of the rest.
We will focus on playing with archetypes to discover when these patterns are serving you and allowing you to be “best self” and how to recognize when they might be shutting down communication.
For example, the Warrior helps us to say no, to fight for ourselves, and to have boundaries; the Caregiver, to be generous and nurturing and, overall, a nice, caring person; and the Sage, to possess a continuing desire to learn and grow. Each also has a shadow side that we can learn to recognize and shift back toward the productive side: The Warrior may be ruthless; the Caregiver can be a suffering martyr; the Sage can be a dogmatist or ideologue.
ACHIEVER
ADVOCATE
ARCHITECT
BUILDER
CATALYST
CHALLENGER
COACH
COMMUNICATOR
CONNECTOR
CREATOR
ENTHUSIAST
EXPLORER
HELPER
INTULLECTUAL
INVENTOR
INVESTIGATOR
JESTER
MENTOR
MUSE
NETWORKER
PROTECTOR
REFORMER
SAMURAI
SERVANT
SHAPESHIFTER
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
Archetypes influence us as Leaders and/or Team players.
We are all leaders. Your contributions influence the way others think and respond. If for every action there is a reaction, then even the action of staying silent shapes the thoughts and actions of those around you. When you become aware of your natural patterns then you can understand the interpretation of others. So that your intention stays in the space of service to yourself and others. Sometimes however, what we do and say can have unintended consequences.
Those unintended consequences can be a result of the shadow side of the archetype.
Before you read about the shadow side, I invite you to see this as an opportunity for growth. Your intentions are pure and yet they can create discord in your collaboration.
The power of knowing how your shadow side might impact you and others is to acknowledge it to your teammates “what you might do to annoy them” and empower them with requests to help you shift quickly.
If these behaviors are relevant to you, acknowledge that you are there and invite yourself to shift back to the intention of your action. Not all shadow behaviors are relevant to each person.