Leadership Development with Archetypes

by CAROL S. PEARSON, PhD, DMin

Dr. Carol S. Pearson, coauthor of the Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator^® instrument, is an internationally recognized scholar and well-known author of numerous books, among them the bestselling The Hero Within, as well as Awakening the Heroes Within, The Hero and the Outlaw, and Magic At Work. Awakening the Heroes Within provided the foundational theory set from which the PMAI^® assessment initially was developed, augmented by analyses of data from fifteen years of PMAI results.
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and HUGH MARR, PhD, LPC

Dr. Hugh Marr is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Alexandria, VA. Prior to that, he worked in all phases of community mental health, culminating in running a partial hospital program for clients with the co-occurring disorders of substance use and major mental illness. Dr. Marr co-authored the books What Story Are You Living and Introduction to Archetypes with Dr. Carol Pearson and developed the PMAI^® (Pearson-Marr Archetype Indicator^®) assessment with her.
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The PMAI instrument can be used in a variety of settings as a tool for leadership development. Living out archetypal stories fosters individuation and thus the development of the mature capacity to take responsibility in the world—the tools necessary for good leadership.

Many people in today's culture have not fully matured enough to exercise leadership. Even in midlife, when something goes wrong in their families, neighborhoods, workplaces, or the nation, they unconsciously expect others to fix it, perhaps even complaining about the sad state of the world as if they have no responsibility for it.

The hero's journey provides a metaphor for the individuation process—the process by which people prepare to take on the responsibilities of mature adulthood and of leadership. This can involve exercising individual leadership (as a parent, a boss, a community leader, a political office holder) and/or participating in shared leadership (such as being a good voter, a concerned citizen, a member of a work or volunteer team, a responsible family member).

Understanding and assessing the higher-level expressions of each archetype can translate into important leadership attitudes and skills. Some of the higher-level attributes of the archetypes are described here:

The Idealist is optimistic, trusts life and others, and inspires others to have faith and to do their best.
The Realist is realistic, resilient, empathic, and helps others anticipate possible trouble.
The Warrior sets clear goals, organizes others to achieve them, and heads off the challenges/adversaries that might get in the way of accomplishing them.
The Caregiver shows care for employees or followers, nurturing and caring for them as well as himself or herself.
The Seeker pursues new ideas, experiences, and ways of doing things, and appreciates others who see opportunities or provide perspectives.
The Lover is passionate, enthusiastic, and able to help people really love their work and appreciate one another, building truly bonded teams.
The Revolutionary recognizes when things are not working, makes needed sacrifices, and takes strong but compassionate action to prune back areas that do not fit one's needs.
The Creator provides a clear vision for where the enterprise is going and is imaginative, flexible, and skilled in moving from a vision to the step-by-step actions needed to make it a reality.
The Ruler is thoroughly in charge, rules for the good of all concerned, and puts procedures, policies, and systems in place that make things work optimally.
The Magician is a catalyst for positive change and transformation, always beginning with his or her personal attitudes and behaviors.
The Sage evaluates options and achievements with an open and dispassionate mind, with awareness of his/her own biases and the limits of what can be known.
The Jester knows how to love life and work and uses this knowledge to free up others and to make the process of what people do together enjoyable as well as productive.

Leadership and executive coaches and consultants can use the PMAI instrument to help leaders develop the gifts associated with each archetype.

Team Building and Organizational Development

The PMAI instrument can be administered to teams as part of team-building exercises. In sharing their results, people within the teams get to know one another better and understand what motivates them and how they make narrative meaning in the world. In addition, teams can look at which archetypes are active for them and which inactive, using that information to help them consider the perspective of the missing or weak archetypes when making group decisions. They can also use their imaginations to seek out the advice of the missing archetypes or seek out advice from consultants or people from teams who have access to that archetype in order to get a more complete picture of their options.

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Idealist Archetype

The Idealist archetype imparts a basic trust in life that lets you look on the bright side. You remain positive and optimistic even when dealing with daunting situations, endeavoring to stay true to beliefs and values that you hold dear. You are trusting and open to receiving help when you need it....

Seeker Archetype

The Seeker archetype compels a search to find yourself. Your eyes are cast to the future, and you are quick to adopt the new and grow tired of the tried and commonplace. You enjoy adventures, new experiences, and personal growth opportunities and see all of life as a journey of exploration....

Sage Archetype

The Sage archetype bestows curiosity on many topics to pursue life as a learning process. Others likely regard you as knowledgeable, and the pursuit of understanding is sufficient reward for you in its own right. You tend to be calm and unruffled, seeking to understand situations to then educate or advise others....

Realist Archetype

Living with an active Realist archetype in your life, you pride yourself on practicality, doing what works, and seeing what is likely. Egalitarian by nature, you like working with unpretentious, trustworthy people. To avoid disappointment, you do not engage in dreams or activities where you feel you don't have sufficient control of the outcome....

Lover Archetype

The drive of an active Lover archetype is for connection and relationships. You are easily passionate, whether for another person, an activity, or an ideal. Sensuous and vital, you let your heart lead the way, choosing activities, jobs, possessions and relationships that lend beauty to your life....

Jester Archetype

For an active Jester archetype, humor and joy in living is paramount. You easily see the inconsistency, absurdity, and irony in life, but you are not compelled to change the way things are. You may chuckle inwardly or you may actively instigate frivolity and laughter, but you revel in furthering the enjoyment of yourself and others....

Caregiver Archetype

As one living out the Caregiver archetype, helping and nurturing others is both a prime value for you and a necessary source of fulfillment. You have antennae for the needs of others and are quick to help out or comfort. Generosity comes easily to you as does taking responsibility to meet needs as required....

Ruler Archetype

The Ruler archetype gravitates to power and directs the power you have to achieve goals, keep order, and promote the good enterprises of which you are a part. You easily sense who defers to whom and what the hierarchy is among the members of various groups. You like to be in control, and you willingly take on responsibilities....

Creator Archetype

Inspired by an active Creator archetype, you are naturally imaginative. Constantly thinking of new possibilities, there are times when ideas effortlessly flow, as if you were an antennae channeling them. You conceive of new possibilities and are able to express those ideas in a tangible form, as in art, writing, design or inventions....

Warrior Archetype

Motivated by the Warrior archetype, you set and meet goals, for you are mission driven. There is a pride in meeting challenges, and when you meet obstacles you try harder, assuming the tough prevail. You enjoy competing, fighting to protect yourself and others, or spearheading crusades....

Revolutionary Archetype

At the heart of the Revolutionary archetype is a non-conformist who challenges, and often changes, the rules and the status quo. "Because this is the way it's done;" or "Because everyone else acts or thinks like this" makes you suspicious and feel hemmed in or trapped. You have the courage to let go of limiting beliefs and habits....

Magician Archetype

An active Magician archetype recognizes that what is real to a person is determined by what one believes. You sense the interconnectedness of events, people, and ideas. You notice serendipity, meaningful connections, and the ripple effects of small changes. You help create change by transforming perceptions in yourself and others....

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Reviews and Excerpts

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